Collei stared curiously at Shao Yun, watching him transfixed by the picture frame on the desk.
She couldn't hold back her question. "Do you… know the Fontainian in that picture frame? If you do, could you maybe return it to him?"
Shao Yun snapped out of his daze. Startled, he rubbed his nose, then quickly shook his head to cover the slip.
"No… no, nothing like that! I've just never seen someone from Fontaine before. So, I found it a little novel, that's all."
Steeling himself, he gestured toward the frame and offered earnestly, "As for this, I think you'd best hold onto it for now."
The suggestion wasn't casual. He remembered Armadillo Town's plague—how one shopkeeper miraculously never caught it. If he took the frame away and Collei's Eleazar worsened as a result, he couldn't bear the guilt.
She wasn't his enemy. And even if the figure in the frame was the devil, as long as it helped Collei, that was what mattered.
Seeing him deny knowing the man, Collei let it go. She nodded softly. "All right then. Let's head back."
The two left, leaving the devil's frame sitting silently on the desk—like a watcher, observing everything.
…
Back in the treehouse where Lumine lay, Shao Yun dragged over a wooden chair. He sat at her bedside, gazing gently at her sleeping face.
She really is beautiful when she sleeps… it never gets old.
Paimon hovered faithfully at Lumine's side, wide eyes fixed on her. She hadn't once mentioned being hungry or thirsty—only watched over Lumine with all her heart.
Across the room, Collei sat quietly with a dictionary from the Akademiya, diligently practicing her reading. The only sound was the faint rustle of turning pages.
…
Time trickled on. Before long, the sun climbed to its zenith.
At last, Lumine stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open.
She rubbed her temple groggily, then slowly pushed herself upright, mumbling, "Ugh… what happened to me?"
Shao Yun sprang up at once, his voice soft with concern. "You're awake? How do you feel? Any discomfort?"
Lumine shook her head, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. She stretched her arms in a wide yawn, then looked curiously around the unfamiliar room.
"Where… are we?" she muttered.
Collei, setting down her dictionary, rose with a shy smile.
"Hello… I'm Collei. I'm a trainee forest ranger."
"This is Gandharva Ville, in Avidya Forest."
Just then, Tighnari walked past the doorway with Haypasia. He caught sight of Lumine awake, immediately stopped, and stepped inside with the calm professionalism of a doctor.
"You're awake. How do you feel? Any lingering discomfort?"
At the entrance, Haypasia's gaze crossed Shao Yun's.
In an instant, she clutched her head in panic, shrieking, "Ahhh! I led you here—to Gandharva Ville! Please, don't kill me! There's no reason!"
Lumine blinked at her terrified state, puzzled. "What's going on?"
Shao Yun scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh, well… it's…"
Tighnari sighed deeply, then addressed Lumine with a steady voice. "Allow me to explain."
He laid out the situation:
"In Sumeru, some scholars meditate using a plant incense called Spirit Borneol. It calms the mind and aids concentration.
You three wandered near Haypasia's cave while she was burning it. Most people are unaffected—but for a rare few, it can overstimulate the spirit. You happen to be one of them."
Or in simpler terms: Haypasia was mid-ritual, channeling visions, and Lumine barged in at the wrong time—scared witless.
After pausing, Tighnari added, "As for why Haypasia fears your companion… I think it best to hear from him directly."
Lumine turned at once, arms crossed, fixing Shao Yun with a curious look. "Well? Care to explain?"
Shao Yun froze, mind racing for an answer.
Before he could speak, Paimon zipped to Lumine's side, eager to help. "I'll explain!"
She recounted everything: how Lumine collapsed, Shao Yun lashed out at Haypasia, and how his fury stemmed from her incense.
What others didn't realize was that Shao Yun hadn't really wanted to kill her. He simply saw an excuse to teach her some manners—and, incidentally, set up a future negotiation with Lesser Lord Kusanali.
When Paimon finished, Lumine looked at Shao Yun with an unreadable mix of emotions.
Was she angry? After all, he'd acted so violently. Or glad? Since it was out of concern for her.
"…Hmm."
Shao Yun shrugged, calm as ever. He spread his hands with a small smile. "Hey, relax. Haypasia's head is still firmly on her shoulders, isn't it?"
He jerked his chin toward her playfully. "Right, Miss Haypasia? Feels good having your head where it belongs?"
Haypasia, already terrified, went paler still at his casual tone. She threw up her hands in frantic defense and screamed, "Help! Somebody!"
Lumine frowned, giving Shao Yun's arm a light smack. "Stop scaring her!"
But Shao Yun only chuckled. "Come on, it was just a joke. Don't take it so seriously."
Lumine wasn't amused. "I'm used to your strange humor. But around others, rein it in."
She turned, apologizing to Haypasia. "I'm sorry. He went too far."
But Haypasia was done. She stammered, "I-it's fine! I'll just… go!" And bolted like a tiger was on her tail, fleeing back to her meditation cave.
…
Tighnari cleared his throat, regaining focus. He addressed Lumine seriously.
"Now then—when you collapsed, did you feel anything unusual? Did you retain awareness? See anything out of the ordinary?"
Lumine hesitated, then described the immense tree she had seen in her dream.
Tighnari listened intently, nodding at intervals.
When she finished, he stroked his chin, frowning in thought. Even with his experience, he found the symptom unheard of.
Finally, he spoke gravely. "I had thought you could leave after a dose of medicine. But with this… I recommend you remain in Gandharva Ville for observation."
The words made Lumine blanch. She shook her head quickly in protest.
It reminded her of being stuck in Inazuma—unable to leave for ages. She didn't want to risk that again.
Seeing her refusal, Tighnari explained the dangers of the rainforest: the Withering, tigers, crocodiles…
But his gaze soon shifted to Shao Yun.
Lumine caught the meaning. If she fainted again mid-journey, she'd burden Shao Yun. A time or two, maybe fine—but long-term? He'd drag her and Paimon off to Fontaine, abandoning Sumeru entirely.
…
In the end, Lumine agreed to stay for treatment.
Shao Yun gave Tighnari a meaningful look, then gestured outside.
The two stepped out of the treehouse.
Shao Yun paused, choosing his words. "Tighnari, I have a small question."
The fox-eared ranger smiled knowingly. "Oh? About caring for her recovery? There's not much you need worry about—"
Shao Yun shook his head. "Partly. But actually… this."
From his Legend of the East satchel, he produced the item his brother-in-law Aether had once given him in the Chasm—what Yelan had called Repose Incense.
He handed it over. "Could you identify this? I heard it comes from Sumeru. Is it Spirit Borneol?"
Tighnari took it, intrigued. The stick resembled Liyue's incense, but subtly different. His ears twitched with curiosity as he examined it.
"Hmm… outwardly, it does look similar," he muttered.
Then he looked up. "But sight alone won't confirm it. Would you light it? Let me smell its smoke."
Shao Yun struck a match, setting it alight. Wisps of pale-blue smoke curled upward.
Tighnari waved some toward his nose, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply.
After a long pause, he opened them, brows furrowed. "Strange… it's very close to Spirit Borneol. But its mixed with other herbs. Complex, and layered."
Shao Yun pressed, "If Lumine breathed this long-term, could she develop resistance?"
Tighnari's expression hardened instantly. He cut him off. "Stop! I see what you're thinking."
"Such recklessness could be fatal. Even a trace change in dosage can turn medicine to poison. Attempting desensitization this way is gambling with her life."
His voice grew firm. "She could suffer irreversible brain damage. End up in a coma—vegetative, forever. Don't even think of it."
Shao Yun flinched. "Of course I wouldn't risk her brain. I was just… curious."
Seeing it was curiosity, Tighnari relaxed. He patted Shao Yun's arm, voice softening. "I understand your concern. But let the professionals handle it. Don't do something foolish."
Shao Yun nodded seriously. "Understood. Doctor's orders."