Every story must eventually come to an end, just like a book—page after page, until you reach the final one.
Rover stood atop a mountain, gazing up at the countless stars twinkling in the night sky.
A vivid river of stars stretched across the heavens, extending as far as the eye could see.
For a long time, Rover did not look away. In his hazy memories, he seemed to harbor a unique sentiment toward the starry sky.
Looking down, Sumeru City was now brightly lit, bustling with life.
The people were sending off a deity who had sacrificed herself for them in their own unique way.
"Since the day I met you, this is the first time I've seen such an expression on your face."
A gentle voice came from behind. Rover did not turn around, instead continuing to lean against the tree trunk, his mind adrift.
His expression, huh...
Only when her words grew clearer did Rover glance at the newcomer.
Her appearance was familiar, but the consciousness within was not.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata walked to Rover's side, looking down at Sumeru City with him. Her emerald-green pupils trembled slightly, as though lost in thought.
"Are you feeling any discomfort in your body?"
Rover offered a polite inquiry. The Greater Lord shook her head.
"Both Nahida and I are part of the Irminsul. Naturally, a body crafted from a branch of the Irminsul bears no abnormalities. It's like what we call the cycle of samsara—death is always accompanied by rebirth."
She paused for a moment, then faintly curled her lips, retrieving the Gnosis from her chest.
"Initially, the Akasha was established to combat the Forbidden Knowledge. Now that its purpose has been fulfilled, it's time to deactivate it. However, I have no authority over the Akasha within you—after all, it has already become a part of you."
Rover watched as the Gnosis floated into his palm, its green fluorescence dispersing the surrounding darkness slightly.
"Why?"
Rover voiced his confusion.
The Greater Lord stepped closer, meeting his gaze.
"Because the Gnosis is no longer of use to me. On the contrary, without sufficient power, it would only become a liability. For you, however, it can serve as leverage against the Fatui, no?"
The young girl before him smiled slyly, offering the Gnosis to Rover without conditions or demands.
Rover lowered his eyes. He understood the Greater Lord's intentions all too well.
Nothing is ever truly free—what appears to be a bargaining chip or benefit has already been predetermined in the unseen balance.
This invisible debt was the most troublesome of all. Such was the wisdom of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Seeing Rover accept the Gnosis, she let out a small sigh of relief.
A sudden burst of color in the sky reflected on her face.
"Fireworks? It's been so long since I last saw them."
The Greater Lord clasped her hands behind her back, gazing at the blooming fireworks like an awestruck maiden, as though witnessing the future of Sumeru.
"Rover!"
Rover snapped out of his thoughts and turned to see Aether waving a torch at him from behind. Paimon floated beside him, leisurely nibbling on some snack she had gotten from who-knows-where.
"Weren't you touring Sumeru City?"
Rover crossed his arms, a gentle expression on his face.
The Echo mark on the back of his hand vibrated, and Abby emerged, immediately sniffing the air.
"No need to sniff—it's all right here in my arms, hehe!"
Paimon proudly dumped an armful of local delicacies into her hands.
Abby's eyes lit up as he flew over, patting Paimon on the shoulder.
"Good buddy, you really get me."
Paimon lifted her chin smugly.
"Of course! Who do you think I am? If there's good food, I'll always share it with you!"
Aether extinguished the torch and pulled out a flower from behind him. The blossom emitted a faint, ethereal blue glow.
The Greater Lord suddenly smacked her forehead—she had forgotten one last important thing to tell Rover.
"In commemoration of the Lesser Lord Kusanali, a new segment has been added to the Sabzeruz Festival."
Now it was Rover's turn to be confused. He took the flower and listened as the Greater Lord explained.
"This flower was originally cultivated by Verina. When Nahida willingly merged with the Irminsul, countless blue flowers like these bloomed around it. So, the Akademiya accepted the people's proposal and added a new tradition."
"During the Sabzeruz Festival, everyone gathers in the most open area of Sumeru City to offer a bouquet of these blue flowers, expressing their respect and remembrance for Nahida."
"Actually, the reason I came was to invite you to be the final flower-offerer, to bring the festival to a close."
Rover nodded in understanding.
...
The lights of Sumeru City suddenly went out, plunging the city into darkness once more.
But then, a single blue light flickered in a corner—like a signal, countless other blue lights began to glow throughout the city. These luminous dots, illuminating the darkness, all flowed toward one direction.
In the cleared-out plaza, countless blooming blue flowers shimmered like a sea of blossoms, swaying in the breeze.
Rover stepped forward slowly, carefully making his way to the center. Under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers, he knelt and placed a single blue flower on the ground.
"A tribute to the forest rangers who perished in the Withering Zones, the scholars who sacrificed themselves in the desert expeditions, and all those who gave their lives for Sumeru."
As Rover stood up, he seemed to sense something. Once again, he looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky, distant memories resurfacing in his mind.
He finally understood what that inexplicable emotion had been.
Civilizations were like these stars—shimmering, flickering.
No... perhaps it was better to say...
"Because of people, there exists a civilization as brilliant as the stars."
The sudden words brushed past him like a gentle breeze, startling Rover. He glanced around, as though something familiar had appeared beside him.
But in an instant, the thought vanished, leaving no trace behind.
Amid the crowd, beneath the blue glow, something seemed to stir the petals in the windless air.
The petals swayed, and in their trembling, a tiny butterfly took flight—only to vanish into motes of light in the blink of an eye.