"Chu Xi, this..." Lumine murmured, staring in disbelief. Identical? How is that possible?!
It was already absurd enough that Silaya's consciousness had reacquired a Dendro Vision five hundred years ago. But now this very Vision had somehow traveled to Liyue and fallen into Chu Xi's hands?
Even Alhaitham was baffled. This scenario defied all precedent.
Nahida had a suspicion, but she couldn't be certain, knowing too little.
If it's Rukkhadevata...
Silaya didn't linger. She moved swiftly to the upper levels of the temple, where a device emitted a soft, verdant glow.
She placed her hand against the device, and green energy slowly flowed into her body, circulated around her, and then returned to the device.
[I have absorbed the Authority of these Temples to serve as a vessel for Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's revival. They were originally one...]
The scene shifted again, showing Silaya visiting various temples, obtaining the priests' permission, and absorbing their Authority.
Finally, she arrived at the Mausoleum of King Deshret.
By this point, she looked utterly exhausted, her lips cracked and parched, only her eyes retaining a fierce spark.
Her staggering gait, barely managing a few steps before nearly collapsing, kept the five people following her in constant suspense.
Over forty days... Silaya had spent over forty days alone in the desert, five centuries in the past...
While Lumine and her companions could accelerate their perception of time, Silaya had no such advantage.
[Deshret's remaining power was dwindling, but thankfully, it was still sufficient.]
After absorbing a sliver of Deshret's Authority, Silaya climbed to the mausoleum's peak. From her robes, she retrieved a branch—a branch from Irminsul, yet withered and lifeless, bearing no resemblance to living wood.
"That's... a branch of Irminsul?"
Nahida's eyes widened. At this time, when did Silaya...?
Silaya poured all the authority she had gathered into the withered branch of Irminsul. As she did, her complexion grew increasingly pale. Finally, as the branch regained its vitality, Silaya's body dissolved into particles of light and vanished.
The Vision she had just obtained at her waist didn't disappear with her. Freed from its restraint, the Vision fell from the highest point of the Mausoleum of King Deshret, tumbling all the way down.
Chu Xi lunged for it, only to grasp at air. Her body buckled, and she collapsed to her knees, large tears streaming down her face.
"Lumine... Silaya, she..." Paimon drew closer to Lumine, shrinking into her embrace.
Alhaitham's lips trembled, his breathing becoming erratic.
"Everyone, don't worry," Nahida said. "Silaya... she's safe for now..."
As if to confirm Nahida's words, the scene shifted again.
This time, the group found themselves at the base of Irminsul. Silaya stood opposite them, her hands clasped together in prayer, facing the tree.
"Is this Irminsul?" Lumine asked. "Or are we still within Silaya's consciousness?"
"This is Silaya's consciousness," Nahida replied.
[Using Irminsul's branches as a foundation, combined with the Authority and divine power of Rukkhadevata and Deshret, and harnessing the Laws of this continent and the Gnosis, I will... save the Gods!]
[And the price? Merely my own oblivion. I, an ordinary person, will trade my existence for Sumeru's Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, for an Irminsul free from corruption, for Sumeru's people and Ley Lines...]
[The Abyss seeks to claim my soul. If I vanish, they will lose their chance, and their sinister plot will fail!]
[A plan that kills four birds with one stone! Ha ha ha! I'm a genius!]
The scene changed once more, still at Irminsul. However, Chu Xi was gone, replaced by Lumine, Paimon, and two Nahidas.
"This is... our first meeting with Rukkhadevata!"
[Ha ha ha! So that's it! So that's how the world truly is! Teyvat's skies... Samsara...]
For some reason, Silaya's voice was filled with static.
[Their plan... the Abyss... ha ha! The answer is obvious! The truth of the world... I have deciphered it!]
[Forgive me for not being able to tell you, Teacher, Traveler, Paimon, and Lord Kusanali. This is too dangerous...]
[And with that, the project is complete. My words end here—]
The scene shifted one last time, this time to a place unfamiliar to Lumine. A vast sea of flowers stretched in every direction, and Silaya stood at its center, smiling warmly at everyone.
The moment Chu Xi saw Silaya, she lunged forward, this time successfully throwing herself into Silaya's arms.
Seeing Chu Xi's tear-streaked face, Silaya held her tenderly.
"So, you came too."
"Waaah... You broke your promise! You said you'd come back for me after the experiment! You said we'd find Collei together..."
Silaya's eyes rimmed with red. "I'm sorry. I had to do this."
Chu Xi clung tightly to Silaya, her voice hoarse with desperation. "Why? Why didn't you think of yourself? Why did you have to sacrifice yourself? Why... I don't want you to leave! You can still come back, right?"
Lumine and Paimon watched the scene with heavy hearts.
Silaya and Chu Xi had known each other for such a short time, yet their bond was so strong...
"Chu Xi, be good. Listen to me. What I'm doing is important. You'll forget me soon enough. When that happens, go back to Liyue and live a good life. Promise me you won't investigate that Vision anymore, okay?"
Chu Xi shook her head frantically. Silaya gently patted her back, then cupped her face, forcing her to meet her gaze.
"Don't investigate it, Chu Xi. The truth will hurt both of us."
Silaya wiped away Chu Xi's tears, hugged her once more, and then walked over to Alhaitham.
"Teacher, my thesis is finished. Were you surprised?"
Alhaitham wiped the faint glimmer from the corner of his eye and forced a smile. "You certainly startled me. As for your thesis, I'm giving you full marks. You'll always be my proudest student!"
Silaya smiled with satisfaction. "Getting such high praise from you is no easy feat."
Alhaitham closed his eyes and asked, "The process must have been painful..."
Silaya: "For me, I've enjoyed the journey."
Alhaitham reached out to touch Silaya's head, but his composure finally broke, and tears streamed down his face.
"Teacher, please tell Kaveh for me... No, never mind. It's no longer necessary..."
Silaya walked over to Lumine. "Lumine—I won't call you Traveler anymore. Soon, you'll be the only one who remembers me. I have a favor to ask."
Silaya looked into Lumine's eyes, which were red and glistening with tears.
"Even though I haven't known you and Paimon for long, I already consider you my dear friends. Lumine, can you help me stop Chu Xi from investigating the truth behind that Vision?"
"Why?"
"I can't say. Knowing the truth wouldn't be good for me, or for Chu Xi. Can you do this for me?"
Lumine glanced at Chu Xi, then nodded.
"Thank you, Lumine."
Silaya turned to Paimon, pulling a large drumstick from seemingly nowhere. "Paimon, I promised you a big drumstick as a reward. Here, take it."
The drumstick was just an illusion—visible but inedible. Still, Silaya had said before that you shouldn't lie to children.
"Silaya..."
Tears began to well up in Paimon's eyes.
"Dendro Archon, greater challenges await you. The Abyss has already discovered me. Once I am deleted, they will surely make their move. From now on, you and Rukkhadevata will have to face them alone..."
Nahida nodded, looking at Silaya. "Silaya, kneel down."
Silaya obeyed, kneeling before her.
Nahida wrapped her arms around Silaya's head, pressing their foreheads together.
"Thank you, Silaya. Truly, thank you. I don't know how I can ever repay you... To be deleted from Irminsul... it's too cruel for you..."
Silaya felt the wetness of tears on her cheeks.
Nahida had held her just like this when they were younger. Back then, little Nahida had been like a mother, comforting Silaya with all her heart.
"Don't cry, Dendro Archon. This is my choice."