Since Nahida still needed time to prepare and Silaya's condition wouldn't improve immediately, Lumine and Paimon decided to head into the city to check on Dehya and her group's progress.
They also needed to find Angie and Tartaglia. Both had promised to help with the upcoming confrontation against Scaramouche. Given Nahida's lack of combat prowess, Lumine would greatly benefit from their assistance.
Lumine and Paimon arrived at the Grand Bazaar, where they encountered Dehya.
"Hey, you two! What are you doing out here? I was just about to come rescue you!"
"It was Chu Xi," Paimon explained. "She snuck in after the guards were distracted and freed us."
Paimon continued, "We just left the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Nahida's been freed, and Silaya's there too. We're about to face Scaramouche, so we're looking for Angie and Tartaglia. Dehya, have you seen them?"
"Not sure. Maybe you should keep searching."
Dehya and her group had already dealt with the Akademiya guards, locking them all up.
Though they were from opposing factions, both sides were still citizens of Sumeru, unwilling to kill each other.
Dehya: "Can you tell me about Silaya's current condition?"
Lumine briefly explained Silaya's situation to Dehya.
Dehya sighed, then said to both of them:
"Go find those two first. I need to find Alhaitham as well—he's been looking for Silaya."
Paimon waved goodbye to Dehya, then followed Lumine to search for Angie and the others elsewhere.
Lumine and Paimon searched many places, but as the time for their meeting with Nahida drew near, they still hadn't found Angie and her companion.
Paimon grumbled angrily: "Damn it! They promised to help us, but they vanish at the most crucial moment!"
"Exactly! When we find them, Paimon's going to give them a piece of her mind!"
Angie's voice suddenly rang out. Paimon instinctively nodded in agreement. "Right!... Wait, Angie, when did you get here?"
Angie: "When a certain little one started furiously accusing us..."
Paimon chuckled sheepishly, pointing a small finger.
"Well, you weren't around when we needed you!"
Angie: "Wasn't Little Paimon planning to beat us up?"
Paimon hid behind Lumine. "I-I was afraid I'd hurt you and then we wouldn't be able to beat Scaramouche later..."
"Ha ha."
Angie stopped teasing Paimon. Her expression turned serious as she looked at Lumine. "What's the situation?"
"Nahida is waiting for us at the Sanctuary of Surasthana," Lumine replied. "We'll face Scaramouche together..."
Angie turned to Ailina. "Ailina, go back and wait for us."
"My lady, let me come with you!"
"Absolutely not. It's too dangerous. Your skills aren't up to it."
"But..."
Ailina glanced at Paimon, her meaning clear: If this little pest can go, surely I'm more capable?
Angie remained firm. "No means no."
Paimon had the protagonist's halo, after all. She could survive under the Raiden Shogun's blade. But Ailina? Just another NPC—the kind who always gets into trouble.
Ignoring Ailina's resentful glare, Angie led her brother, Lumine, and Paimon toward the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
"Oh, right, Traveler, have you mentioned us to... Nahida yet?"
Lumine nodded. "She said she wants to meet you."
Angie glanced at her brother. The God of Wisdom... we need to be careful how we handle this.
-
Sanctuary of Surasthana.
"How's the progress coming along, Nahida?" Paimon asked as she floated in.
"The operational aspects are complete... These must be the Fatui Harbinger 'Childe' and his adjutant Angie you mentioned."
Angie: "Greetings, Dendro Archon. I'm Angie. Let's make it clear: we're here to help defeat Scaramouche. We'll discuss other matters after that's settled."
Nahida chuckled softly. "Very well."
Beside Nahida floated a small creature resembling both a dog and a rabbit. Paimon stared at it as soon as she entered.
"Nahida, what's this tiny, floating thing?"
"It's a little thing I created in my spare time. Think of it as an upgraded Akasha Terminal."
After explaining to Paimon, Nahida turned to Lumine. "You won't need it yet, but it might prove useful in certain situations."
Paimon crossed her arms, pouting. "Wait a minute! This little thing is overlapping with my attributes! At first glance, we're both floating, small-sized creatures..."
"Hey... my unique qualities are being stolen! People won't remember me when I'm with the Traveler anymore. I won't be the one and only..."
Angie couldn't help but chuckle. Was little Paimon getting jealous?
Paimon glared sideways. "Hey, I'm talking about something serious here!"
Lumine: "But the difference between you two is obvious..."
Nahida: "Don't worry, Paimon. It can't replace you. It's just a flying tool, while you're the Traveler's irreplaceable friend!"
"Whoa, Nahida's really good at comforting people! If only the Traveler were as smart as you..."
Lumine rolled her eyes. This little rascal.
Nahida: "Huh? I was just stating what I believe to be true. I wasn't trying to comfort you."
Paimon: "Are you a natural at comforting people, Nahida? What you said actually made me feel even better!"
After chatting for a while longer, the group prepared to set off.
The Joururi Workshop was located outside Sumeru City.
It took some time for the five of them to reach the workshop entrance.
"Everyone, the enemies ahead are very strong. We must stay fully focused."
Paimon: "Don't worry, Nahida! I'm all ready!"
Several Fatui soldiers were still inside the Workshop. With Angie and Tartaglia taking the lead, they were swiftly dismissed.
As the group ventured deeper, the layout of the Workshop gradually came into view.
"The False God's true form is called Scaramouche, right? We previously made contact with his consciousness, and he harbors intense and obvious obsessions... One is his innate craving for the Gnosis, a consequence of being born as its vessel..."
"The other obsession likely stems from his past experiences, though I can't pinpoint its exact nature."
Angie: "Before becoming a Fatui Harbinger, Scaramouche was originally the Raiden Shogun. But due to certain flaws, he was abandoned. After a series of traumatic events, he transformed into what he is today..."
Nahida nodded in understanding. After navigating a series of mechanisms, the group finally reached the gate to the space where Scaramouche resided.
Nahida: "Can you feel it? This aura..."
Lumine: "We're about to face true Archon-level combat power..."
Angie: "Let's go. I've been wanting to beat him up for ages."