"…You're welcome."
Nahida answered his thanks on reflex, then turned—only to catch a last glimpse of Idris's back as he strolled away. Night had fallen deep. After a day like his, rest was a mercy.
That single "thank you" stalled the tears still clinging to her lashes. Maybe he isn't as heartless as he sounds… Maybe he just prefers letting facts do the talking.
She watched him go, sighed, and let the tangle in her chest sit where it was.
Idris felt no such tangle. He reached his room and, before long, slept—dreamless.
Morning found him stretching, spirit restored. As he rose, he noticed a letter on the nightstand—elegant hand, a faint, clean fragrance. The signature was exactly who he expected.
Inside, in a neat, careful script:
Sage Idris,
After your scolding yesterday, I've seen my shortcomings more clearly.
I don't want you to keep treating me like an ignorant child, so I plan to go out—visit other nations, look around.
Please don't worry. I'm not running away; I only mean to clear my head. At most, I'll be gone three days before returning.
Since you already think I'm a child… allow me a few more willful moments.
—Lesser Lord Kusanali, Sumeru's second God of Wisdom. Thank you.
It figured. After a night of brooding, she'd chosen to walk it off—and, thanks to his recent performance, she felt safe leaving Sumeru in his hands for two or three days. With the last Grand Sages, she'd never have dared.
He tucked the letter away. The Sanctuary could never hold her mind—if she wanted to roam, she would roam. He treated it like an approved leave request and headed back to the Grand Sage's office.
—
At the Sumeru branch of the Adventurers' Guild, Nilou, out window-shopping with Dehya, peered at the empty counter.
"Strange. Where did Miss Katheryne go?"
A stand-in in a guild cloak hurried up. "Ladies, Katheryne requested three days off to relax. We adventurers will cover her duties until she's back."
Nilou and Dehya traded a look full of question marks.
"Katheryne took time off to relax?" Dehya frowned. "Isn't she… a robot?"
"I'm not sure," Nilou said softly. "Maybe there are… special circumstances."
As for "Katheryne," she was already on the road—escorted by a few Forest Rangers—bound for Port Ormos. With The Chasm not yet opened by that earnest blond Traveler, sea routes were the only sensible way to reach another nation.
On the docks, she turned and smiled. "Thank you, Master Tighnari—and you as well, Collei. No trouble along the way."
Tighnari stood protectively in front of his trainee. "No need for thanks. This is the Forest Rangers' job."
Collei, shy as ever, bobbed a nod. "Right… It's just my first time seeing Miss Katheryne—um, the one who always stands at the Guild—go traveling to relax."
"Katheryne" smiled again.
Of course, Katheryne would never do this. Nahida would.
Choosing a destination had been simple: Mondstadt was too far for a three-day round trip; Inazuma was too dangerous for a casual visit. From Port Ormos, Liyue lay straight ahead over water. And after hearing Idris admit, "I like and envy Liyue—truly," her heart had tilted that way too. Learn from the land that could walk into the future the day after its god "fell."
Tighnari caught her eye. "Once we've seen you off, we're heading into Sumeru City. We've heard the new Grand Sage, Mr. Idris, is… different."
"I want to speak with him about the rainforest's problems," he added. "If we're lucky, he might even improve the Forest Rangers' standing."
Hearing even Tighnari and Collei sound hopeful, Nahida—wearing Katheryne's smile—felt her mood lighten.
No wonder he leaves even me at a loss, she thought. Even the rangers have begun to change how they see him.
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