"Traveler, you can't be spacing out at such a crucial moment!"
A familiar voice echoed in her ears, gradually pulling Lumine's consciousness back.
Inazuma?
Strange... I thought I was already in Sumeru.
"Are you tired? If you are, you can rest for a bit. We're all counting on you to bring our Shogun back, so don't push yourself to the point of collapse."
Lumine pulled her thoughts back to the present, her gaze falling upon the graceful and enchanting figure before her.
Yae Miko.
And right now, she was undergoing... Anti-Raiden Shogun Special Training!
Strange... Why do I feel like I've already completed this training?
"Are you... all right? Is the pressure getting to you?"
Seeing Lumine remain motionless for so long, Yae Miko spoke with a hint of concern. Lumine quickly shook her head.
"Don't force yourself."
As if to prove she was fine, or perhaps to seize the opportunity to think things through, Lumine stepped directly into the training ground and began a new round.
The attack patterns were familiar, yet something was different—she couldn't react in time. In the end, she was struck by Electro.
A faint sting of pain and numbness spread through her body. Lumine was now almost certain: her desperate desire to pass the training had caused her to dream of saving Inazuma. Now, it was time to return to reality.
I can't let Yae Miko down. She even gave up the Gnosis to save me from Scaramouche, the Balladeer... Wait, did Yae Miko ever tell me about the Gnosis?
A flicker of doubt crossed Lumine's mind, but the intense training quickly forced all other thoughts away.
She repeated the training again and again, her body gradually memorizing the patterns. After about an hour, Lumine could finally flawlessly evade every Electro strike from the device.
By now, she was utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically, her body drenched in sweat.
"Your performance has truly exceeded my expectations," Yae Miko remarked. "It seems you genuinely have a chance to make the Raiden Shogun change her current decrees."
Lumine was about to respond to the praise when the scene before her suddenly shifted.
Without her noticing, the surroundings had dissolved into an endless darkness. Standing before her was a figure who seemed to transcend the mortal world.
Raiden Ei!
"You are a variable in Eternity."
"For the sake of Inazuma's Eternity, I must eliminate you here."
Lumine's eyes sharpened as she tightened her grip on the Dull Blade. Even facing Raiden Ei's terrifying aura, she felt not a shred of fear.
For the sake of everyone's wishes in Inazuma, I must defeat Ei!
With unwavering resolve, Lumine charged at Raiden Ei, swinging her Dull Blade.
"We won!"
"Inazuma is at peace!"
The scene shifted again, this time to a victory banquet.
Lumine looked around, bewildered by the lively celebration surrounding her.
Did I win?
Right, I did win.
The memories flooded back. She had shown Raiden Ei the powerful wishes of Inazuma's people, ultimately changing the Shogun's mind and saving the nation.
"You did wonderfully this time, little one."
Yae Miko had appeared beside her without warning, her delicate body pressing against Lumine's back, exuding a captivating fragrance.
Lumine shivered slightly, the tips of her ears flushing red. Just as she was about to speak, Yae Miko spoke first.
"You must be tired. How about a dip in the hot springs?"
The bustling crowd vanished, replaced by a spacious open-air hot spring. The air was thick with humid steam.
Lumine glanced down and found her clothes had been replaced with an Inazuma-style yukata. It was a lovely bright yellow adorned with delicate white flower petals. While it looked beautiful, the sudden change left Lumine slightly stunned.
"Hee hee, what are you spacing out for?"
"Come on now, don't just stand there dazed. You'll catch a cold."
Yae Miko placed her hands on Lumine's shoulders and gently pushed her into the hot spring. The comforting warmth instantly enveloped Lumine, making her so relaxed she stopped thinking altogether.
Yae Miko seems especially gentle today... Lumine mused, gradually letting her body unwind.
"Our little hero deserves a small reward for her great deeds today. I hope you'll like it, little one."
As Yae Miko spoke, her lips were so close to Lumine's ear that her warm breath tickled it.
Just as Lumine wondered what Yae Miko's reward could be, two long, slender, pale arms slipped under her armpits and wrapped around her body.
"Today, let your big sister Miko give you a little check-up. Let's see if you're developing properly!"
Lumine's body jolted, her face instantly turning beet red as she began to struggle.
No, Miko, don't!
"Oh my, you're blushing! How adorable!"
No, you can't!
"Be good now, listen to me. Let me see!"
"No... don't..."
Lumine's resistance quickly softened, her defenses crumbling layer by layer under Yae Miko's persistence.
Just as Lumine was about to glimpse the world of adults, a sudden, urgent call echoed in her ear.
"Traveler, wake up!"
"Traveler, you have to wake up!"
Is that... Paimon's voice?
Who's Paimon?
Paimon... she's my companion, I think...
As this realization dawned, Lumine suddenly remembered that the tiny white figure had been absent from all the scenes she'd just witnessed. At that very moment, the world around her shattered...
The dream was over.
Lumine slowly opened her eyes and saw Paimon's anxious face hovering above her.
"Traveler, you're finally awake!"
"Thank goodness! You have no idea how scary you were just now!"
"While you were sleeping, your expression started out really serious, then you started radiating this terrifying killing intent! After that, you looked horrified, and finally, you started giggling like a complete idiot..."
Lumine shook her head, her consciousness gradually clearing.
Hearing Paimon's description, she felt a wave of embarrassment.
She'd just had one heck of a dream...
As this thought crossed her mind, Lumine looked at Paimon again, suddenly finding her companion's presence inexplicably irritating.
"Traveler, why are you looking at me like that? Your glare is kind of scary."
Noticing the strange aura around Lumine, Paimon instinctively backed away several feet until she felt a sliver of safety.
"Perhaps she's still half-asleep, caught in the remnants of her dream."
Just then, Dr. Edward walked over, looking at Lumine with concern.
"Traveler, did you have another absurd dream? Would you like to tell me about it?"
Lumine nodded, about to describe what she'd dreamt... when she suddenly froze.
Wait a minute... how is she supposed to describe that scene?!
At this realization, Lumine abruptly stopped shaking her head and began nodding vigorously instead
Meanwhile, Lumine's cheeks grew flushed and hot. It would have been fine if Paimon hadn't mentioned it, but now, images of Yae Miko's alluring body began to dance relentlessly through her mind.
Paimon stared, completely bewildered.
"Traveler, was there something wrong with your dream?"
"And why is your face so red? Are you sick?"
At that moment, a jolt of electricity shot through Lumine, paralyzing her completely. The intense shock finally caused the blush on her face to fade.
Startled by the sudden development, Paimon scrambled back a few steps before turning to Dr. Edward with alarm.
"Dr. Edward, I think the Traveler is seriously ill!"
"Don't panic, I'm here! Let me take a look!"
Dr. Edward stepped forward, but just as he did, Lumine finally regained control of her body. She quickly waved him off, signaling that she was fine.
Then, with a look of unwavering determination, she turned to answer Paimon's earlier question.
"No, nothing at all!"
"There was nothing wrong with my dream!"
"It was just a perfectly normal, ordinary dream. There's nothing worth discussing at all!"
Lumine's adamant denial only made Paimon more suspicious.
"Traveler, what's wrong? You're acting really weird."
"And that strange expression you had earlier... it didn't look like nothing was wrong at all!"
"Why don't you tell us what you dreamed about? Dr. Edward is here too, so you can just speak freely!"
Lumine had no intention of following Paimon's advice. If she described that dream, her reputation would be ruined!
So, faced with Paimon's relentless questioning, Lumine immediately claimed she had forgotten.
"Huh? No way, you forgot that quickly?"
"Why don't you try to remember, Traveler? It hasn't been that long. You might be able to recall it!"
You talk too much!
Lumine shot Paimon a glare and then smacked her on the head.
"Ow! Traveler, why did you hit me?!"
Paimon clutched her head, her voice tinged with grievance.
"I was just worried about you, and you hit me! That's so mean! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
"Unless you make me food for a whole week, I'm not forgiving you!"
Lumine rolled her eyes. Paimon's little scheme was so obvious it was practically slapping her in the face.
Ignoring Paimon's transparent manipulation, Lumine turned to Dr. Edward with an expression of utter innocence.
Dr. Edward, please believe me!
Perhaps it was the sheer, almost foolishly pure clarity in Lumine's eyes—like a college student who had never seen the real world—that convinced Dr. Edward to drop the subject. He waved his hand dismissively.
"Well, if you've forgotten, there's nothing to be done. But you certainly don't look like you've had a nightmare. It seems today's medicine had some effect after all."
"How about this? I'll brew you another pot of the same medicine before we set off."
Hearing Dr. Edward's words, Lumine's face flushed slightly again, and she hesitated.
After a long moment of indecision, she finally made up her mind and declared to Dr. Edward:
"Increase the dosage!"
Don't misunderstand, she thought frantically. I just want to get better faster! I have absolutely no other intentions!
A smile spread across Dr. Edward's face at her request, and he went off to brew the medicine.
Paimon, however, stared at Lumine in utter shock, her eyes filled with profound admiration.
Before long, the mysterious, green-bubbling liquid was brought out in a medicine pot that was a full size larger than the last one.
As the pungent odor—so strong it felt like it was shooting straight to the top of her skull—assaulted her senses again, every cell in Lumine's body screamed in protest.
But then, the image of Yae Miko's alluring face flashed through her mind, and her resolve hardened instantly.
Ignoring her body's desperate protests, Lumine lifted the pot and downed the entire green concoction in one go.
After returning the medicine pot to Dr. Edward, Lumine collapsed into sleep.
"Traveler, are you okay? Wake up!"
Seeing Lumine slump to the ground, Paimon instantly panicked. Forgetting her earlier declaration of breaking off their friendship, she flew to Lumine's side, frantically trying to call back her fading consciousness.
An hour later, Lumine slowly stirred awake.
As expected, her control over Dendro Elemental Power felt much more natural. Yet, her heart held no joy. She hadn't been dreaming.
If Paimon had called her just a moment later...
"Traveler!"
Seeing Lumine awake, Paimon stuffed the half-eaten pastry in her hand into her mouth all at once. With puffed-out cheeks, she flew to Lumine's side and hugged her, mumbling something unintelligible. At the same time, her crumb-covered hands smeared all over Lumine's clothes.
Lumine had felt a flicker of warmth, but the sight instantly filled her with disgust. She shoved Paimon away and sat up in bed.
"You're awake?"
"How are you feeling?"
Lumine nodded in response to Dr. Edward's questions.
"Good. We're a bit later than planned, but it shouldn't affect things much. Let's get going."
Dr. Edward's words didn't surprise Lumine, as he had already told her about this plan.
To prevent the medicine shipment to the Restricted Zone from being intercepted, Dr. Edward planned to sneak in under the cover of darkness.
The Akademiya likely had guards posted even at night, but their numbers would be thin.
Even if they were discovered, it would take the Akademiya considerable time to assemble reinforcements—time enough for them to deliver the medicine.
That was why Dr. Edward had come to find Lumine and Paimon so late at night—though observing Lumine's current condition was also a factor.
"I've already loaded the medicine onto the cart, along with my personal supplies. After this delivery, I'll need to lie low for a while."
"The situation in Sumeru City is worse than I anticipated. While I don't fear the Akademiya's Sages harming me, I worry they'll restrict my movements."
"For the sake of the patients still suffering, I can't let them catch me."
"So, after this is over, I'm afraid I won't be able to personally introduce you to Lesser Lord Kusanali."
"However, I know someone who might be able to help you."
Facing Lumine and Paimon's expectant gazes, Dr. Edward paused for a moment before continuing.
"She's a teacher from the Akademiya's Haravatat Darshan, Faruzan."
"Her physical condition is rather unusual. Although she looks very young, she's actually over a hundred years old."
"That's how I came to know her."
"She might be able to help you with this matter, but..."
Dr. Edward's expression suddenly turned serious.
"When you meet her, you must address her as 'Madam.' The consequences will be severe otherwise!"