Alright, so here's the thing. Planning makes my head hurt. I can swing a sword, run my mouth, or make a fool out of myself with ease, but the moment I have to think two steps ahead? Boom. Migraine city. Maybe this is karma for playing dumb half the time—life's way of saying, "Alright, genius, figure this one out."
As we followed Cyno's directions and eventually made our way toward Dehya, I kept my thoughts close. We don't have to rush. Just follow the pace. Sabotage future problems before they happen. Easier said than done, though.
Nilou walked beside me, her steps light but her eyes still heavy from the earlier tension. "Shigeru, do you really think everything will go as smoothly as Cyno believes?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Smoothly? No. Less catastrophic? Hopefully. That's about the best I can hope for right now."
Greg flicked his tongue at Nilou like he was chiming in with agreement. She giggled, the sound easing some of the heaviness. "At least Greg thinks so."
Lumine gave me a sideways glance. "You always expect the worst."
"Expecting the worst means I'm pleasantly surprised when it doesn't happen," I muttered. "Call it optimism in disguise."
Truth is, if I don't expect disaster, I get blindsided. And I've been blindsided too many times to count.
Paimon's excited voice cut through my thoughts. "Dehya~! We're here!"
Dehya's response was instant and sharp. "It's about time! Didn't you say our part of the plan is the most important of all? Tsk, and here you come rolling in late."
Her arms were crossed, a smirk plastered on her face. I could already feel the playful sting coming. "In the time it took you to get here, I already did five laps around the place, downed seven drinks, and even did some clothes shopping."
Paimon flailed, panicking as usual. "Uh, sorry… We didn't mean to keep you waiting…"
Dehya chuckled. "Heh, I just wanted to fix your attitude and rub it in a little. After all, you took your sweet time getting here, and we've got important stuff to take care of."
Lumine stepped in, voice calm but apologetic. "Sorry. The situation was a bit tricky."
Dehya's eyes softened, then she laughed again. "…Haha, I just like seeing that serious look on your face. Alright, I'll stop."
Nilou, who had been quiet at my side, sighed with relief. "You really had us there, Dehya."
I raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Seven drinks before an important mission though? I'm not sure if I should be impressed or terrified."
Greg flicked his tail against my hand like he agreed with me. I smirked. "See? Even Greg's not sold on your training method."
"All joking aside, I'm glad you're here," Dehya said, shifting into a more serious tone. "Let's get moving and take care of this as soon as possible."
Paimon tilted her head. "Uh, but where should we start?"
Dehya didn't hesitate. "Our responsibility is to get a status update on the Fatui Harbinger known as The Doctor. We need to make sure he won't get in our way when we rescue Lesser Lord Kusanali."
I felt my chest tighten a little at the mention of him. The Doctor. Dottore. A man like that could turn everything upside down. "She's right. Dealing with the Akademiya alone is like climbing a mountain with one hand tied. If Dottore shows up… we're not looking at a climb anymore. We're staring at a wall."
"Exactly." Dehya nodded at me. "Dealing with an institution that controls all of Sumeru is already hard enough. If The Doctor were to crash the party, it would be next to impossible for us to achieve our goals."
Paimon shivered, hugging herself. "Yeah, we sure don't want him showing up… Ugh, he really gives Paimon the creeps!"
Nilou nodded slightly. "Even hearing his name makes me uneasy. He doesn't sound like someone any of us want to face directly."
Lumine's brows furrowed, her voice calm but sharp. "We need to be extra careful then. Even the Akademiya alone is already difficult—adding someone like Dottore on top of that isn't something we can afford."
Dehya leaned against a wall with casual confidence. "Right, hearing his name just reminds me of those stuffy old geezers in the Akademiya. I'd rather not have to deal with someone like that."
I sighed. "Fair. But if he's really moving pieces behind the scenes, ignoring him isn't an option. We need information, and fast."
I drew a deeper breath, my voice lower than usual. "I've faced him before. Dottore himself. I can handle his clones easily enough, but the real him… I still don't fully grasp his true capability."
Paimon shuddered at my words, hugging herself tighter. "Ugh… even just remembering that makes Paimon shiver. And also—" she glanced at me with worried eyes— "that was the first time Paimon ever saw you lose control. You scared Paimon that time."
Lumine's expression grew serious, her agreement quiet but firm. "She's right. That moment was different. You weren't yourself."
Nilou fidgeted at my side, her usual warmth tinged with unease, but I only clenched my hand and exhaled slowly. "That's why I don't want to underestimate him again."
Losing control once was bad enough. If it happens again, it won't just scare them—it might break something I can't fix.
"So, what should we do?" Lumine asked.
Dehya laid out the plan. "According to the plan, we should first go to Pardis Dhyai and ask for Forest Watcher Tighnari. If Alhaitham and Cyno's sources are solid, then we can be sure that Tighnari still has the Akademiya's trust."
I scratched my chin. "Smart move. If the Akademiya trusts him, he'll have ears on both sides of the wall. That means better intel than anything we could scrape up ourselves."
Dehya pointed at me with a grin. "Exactly. We find Tighnari, and convince him to get us the latest intel on The Doctor. Then, depending on what we learn, we'll make any necessary adjustments to our plan."
Nilou clasped her hands together. "That sounds like a good path forward. It feels safer when we're not charging in blindly."
"Yeah," I muttered, "blind charges usually end with me in the hospital or unconscious. Not eager to repeat that experience."
Greg tapped my wrist with his claw like he was saying you always end up like that, don't you? I sighed, rubbing his little head. "Don't remind me."
Dehya continued. "The sages have placed spies everywhere on the other side of the Wall. I'll follow you as a bodyguard."
Lumine blinked, a little surprised. "I didn't expect you to become our bodyguard."
Dehya smirked. "Haha, you should be honored. I don't offer my services to just anyone, you know."
Paimon floated closer, crossing her tiny arms. "But Paimon thought mercenaries would do anything for Mora!"
"That's certainly true," Dehya admitted, "but when multiple employers are vying for your services, you should always go with the best offer. Hmm, let's see. If I were to charge you a bill… I guess I can apply a discount."
Paimon's eyes went wide. "H-How much Mora do you want? Paimon's not sure we can afford it…"
Dehya tapped her chin dramatically. "Hmm, how much do I want…? Hey, how about paying me with a smile, whaddya say?"
"…Huh?" Lumine muttered, caught off guard.
Dehya's eyes locked on me. "I haven't seen you smiling much recently. If you ask me, someone like you must look lovely when they smile. Come on, give me a smile so that I can be less worried."
The group turned to Lumine like she was suddenly on trial. She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Thank you, Dehya." She forced a small smile, more genuine than she expected. Maybe because Dehya was right—she hadn't smiled much lately.
Her grin widened. "Looking good! I hope this pretty smile will become our lucky charm."
Nilou beamed, her voice soft. "See? I told you your smile would come back when you needed it most."
"There are many kinds of smiles," Dehya went on, "but only a truly joyous one can bring blessings to others. Let's consider this smile a down payment for our future victory."
Lumine muttered under her breath, "If that's the case, I better start practicing in the mirror…"
Greg gave my arm a sharp tap, like don't ruin the moment.
I let out a quiet chuckle. Funny how even in moments like this, they find ways to pull each other back from the heaviness. Maybe that's why we're still standing at all.
Dehya stood tall, confident as ever. "Let's go! It's time to pay a visit to Pardis Dhyai."
And so, with smiles and plans in place, we took our next step forward.
***
The road toward Pardis Dhyai stretched ahead of us, quiet except for the crunch of boots on dirt and the occasional chirp of distant birds. Nilou, Lumine, and Paimon walked a few paces in front, chatting lightly, while Greg clung lazily to my shoulder like he owned the place. His little claws tapped on my collarbone, almost like he was drumming to some beat only he could hear. Every so often, he flicked his tail against my cheek, a not-so-subtle reminder that he was, in fact, the boss.
Dehya lingered beside me, her pace steady, her gaze occasionally flicking my way. She wasn't one to stay quiet when something bothered her, so it was only a matter of time.
Finally, she broke the silence. "What happened to you? You've been awfully different today."
I chuckled, not really surprised she noticed. Dehya's sharp like that. My eyes drifted forward, settling on the three figures ahead—Lumine's calm stride, Nilou's graceful steps, Paimon's energetic hovering. The sight made me exhale a little softer than usual. Even Greg tilted his head toward them, flicking his tail against my jaw like he was silently judging me for getting sentimental.
"I guess realizing that there are people you wish to protect makes you see things differently," I said. "Not all the time is fun time." The words left me with a small, unforced smile. For once, it didn't feel like I was forcing humor into everything.
Dehya raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips. "Hah. Didn't think you had it in you to talk like that. What's next? A speech about honor and justice?"
I held up a hand dramatically, like I was about to deliver one, then dropped it with a grin. "Relax, I'm not that far gone yet. No knightly speeches from me. Just… a little honesty."
Greg nodded sagely, as if approving the rare moment of seriousness. He even patted my cheek with a claw, which earned a snort from Dehya.
"You're changing," she said after a pause, this time more serious. "Can't tell yet if that's a bad thing or a good thing."
I laughed under my breath. "Don't worry, fire mommy. Old Shigeru's still here—just… a little suppressed. He'll come out if chaos is the only option."
Greg lifted a claw dramatically, like he was cosigning that statement. I swear he rolled his beady lizard eyes, too.
Dehya smacked my arm, grinning. "That's what I'm talking about. If you lose your chaotic side, I'll be really sad."
"No need to worry," I told her, stretching my shoulders lightly. "I'll keep my chaos available all the time. But right now? Let's focus on saving the Dendro Archon."
Her grin sharpened, a playful glint in her eyes. "Say… just how strong is serious Shigeru?"
I tilted my head, amused. "Not stronger than usual. Just smart enough not to destroy everything. But as they say—precision and control are scarier than brute strength."
"Oh?" Dehya's grin widened as she drew her claymore, the sunlight catching its edge. "Can I test that out?"
Greg immediately hopped from my shoulder to the ground and scampered a safe distance away. The little guy looked back at me, shaking his head like, nope, not my problem.
I laughed and stepped back, already unsheathing my own blade. "Sure thing."
The clash came fast. Her claymore swung heavy and wild, carrying the weight of her raw strength, but I met it with measured steps. My blade hummed as I infused it with electro, sparks leaping across the steel as I redirected her strike into the dirt. Sand and dust kicked up.
Dehya grinned through the clash, teeth bared, eyes bright. "This is better. This is the Shigeru I wanted to see."
"Careful what you wish for," I replied, my voice low but steady. "You might just get it."
She lunged again. This time, I twisted my hand and let an anemo current burst out, catching her momentum and throwing her back half a step. Dehya grinned wider, eyes burning hotter. "That's more like it!"
I moved with precision, alternating elements in ways that mirrored a dance more than a fight. Geo to steady my stance, hardening the ground under my feet when her strikes threatened to uproot me. Electro to accelerate my movements, striking faster than her eyes could follow. Anemo to divert her swings and keep the pressure balanced. Dendro to sprout vines from the earth, slowing her advance for a split second—just enough to create an opening.
She roared in frustration as the vines curled at her ankles. "You're holding back. I can tell!"
"Of course I am." My voice was calm, steady, almost cold. "If I wasn't, we wouldn't call this sparring anymore."
Greg, from his safe spot on a rock, lifted both claws like he was pretending to referee a match. He pointed at Dehya, then at me, then at the ground as if signaling round two, fight.
Dehya slammed her claymore down, shattering the vines. "Then stop playing around and show me what precision really means."
From ahead, Paimon's shriek echoed. "What in the world are they doing?!"
Dehya glanced her way for a split second, grinning like a child caught misbehaving. "Just a friendly spar! Testing how strong serious Shigeru is!"
Lumine stood with her arms crossed, watching closely. A faint smile tugged her lips. "He's dangerous…" she muttered under her breath.
Nilou's eyes lit up, her hands cupping around her mouth. "Go, Shigeru! You can do it!" Her cheer rang out sweetly, adding a warmth to the intensity.
Her voice reached me, and I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath. She's cheering for me like this is some stage performance. I should probably not trip and ruin the act.
I pressed forward, my blade humming with layered energy. Each strike I made was sharp, precise, not wasted on unnecessary flair. Dehya countered with overwhelming force, her claymore carving through the air like a storm. For every crushing blow she dealt, I was there with exact control—meeting, redirecting, or countering in perfect rhythm.
Finally, as our blades locked together, I let a surge of anemo burst between us, forcing her back several steps. She skidded across the dirt, panting, sweat rolling down her temple. I, on the other hand, calmly slid my sword back into its sheath, my breathing steady.
Dehya wiped her forehead with her arm and barked out a laugh. "I guess the rumors are true. You're an idiot—but a powerful one. Especially when you drop the clown act, huh?"
I smiled faintly, brushing a bit of dust off my shoulder. "Get used to it. You'll be seeing more of this side from now on."
Her grin softened into something more genuine. "Good. I wouldn't want it any other way."
The others caught up, curiosity still sparking in their eyes. Paimon hovered close, still jittery. "That wasn't sparring—that was terrifying!"
Nilou giggled gently. "But it was amazing to watch."
Greg climbed back onto my shoulder, patting my cheek with his tiny claw like he was proud. Or maybe reminding me not to get too full of myself.
Lumine's gaze lingered on me, unreadable, but her small smile said enough. "Looks like you've finally stopped hiding."
I looked ahead again, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword. Stopped hiding, huh? Maybe she's right. But it's not about me anymore.
"Alright," I said aloud. "Enough playing around. Time to push the mission forward."
Dehya chuckled beside me, nudging my arm with her elbow. "Next time, I'm not letting you hold back."
"Next time," I echoed with a smirk.
And so, with the dust of our spar still settling behind us, we moved toward Pardis Dhyai, the weight of our true goal pressing steadily forward.
____________
End of Chapter 141
Quests Completed:
*You have successfully regrouped with Dehya and confirmed her role in the mission. Despite her teasing, she has placed her trust in you.
*Upon hearing Dottore's name, memories resurface of your previous clash. You confronted the fear within, and promised not to lose control again.
*Dehya tested your "serious" self in a spar. You demonstrated restraint, precision, and controlled elemental balance. The Lioness acknowledged you not as a fool, but as a warrior.
*With Dehya's insistence, Lumine smiled again—something she hasn't done in a while. The smile has been claimed as a "lucky charm" for the battles to come.
*Greg successfully refereed the spar without getting squished. He has awarded you the prestigious "Lizard Seal of Approval."
Rewards:
*+100 Dehya Respect Points
*+1 New Sparring Partner (Unlocked: Dehya)
*+50 Lumine Trust Points (She saw your control firsthand)
*+80 Nilou Admiration Points (Cheered for you like a stage performance)
*+10 Greg Pride Points (awarded via cheek tap)
*+1 Mental Fortitude (Resisting Dottore's shadow over your mind)
*+1 Hidden Technique Slot: "Elemental Balance" discovered (Precision over Power)
*+1 Lucky Charm: Lumine's Smile (Passive: morale boost to all allies nearby)
Achievement Unlocked:
"Precision Over Power"
-You chose restraint over recklessness, precision over brute strength. For the first time, you showed the group your controlled side, earning their recognition and trust.