After their journey through the desert ended, Lora and Nahida brought everyone back to the Rainforest once the plan was set in motion.
Alhaitham and Nahida prepared to begin carrying out the plan, while Lora wanted to make a trip to Vanarana first.
"Vanarana? Why?"
Paimon looked at Lora in confusion, unable to understand why she wanted to go there.
"Did you forget? Haypasia, the scholar who connected to Scaramouche's consciousness, is still recovering in Vanarana. I'm going to check on her, and while I'm there, I'll catch up with Scaramouche."
"Catch up?"
After hearing that, both Lumine and Paimon looked puzzled. Neither of them knew what kind of history Lora and Scaramouche had, but they did not stop her.
"Then be careful!" Lumine said.
"Don't worry. I'm hard to kill. Until I achieve my goal, I won't die."
Lora waved at everyone, then added,
"Take good care of my niece. Don't let her fall into danger."
"Leave it to us."
Alhaitham nodded seriously.
After parting ways with the group midway, Lora headed to Vanarana alone. There, she ran into Tighnari, who had come from Avidya Forest and was currently taking care of Haypasia.
"It's you!"
Tighnari looked surprised when he saw Lora. Because she had helped Collei suppress Eleazar, he held her in great respect.
"I came to see Haypasia," Lora said.
"She's resting inside. I'll take you there."
Tighnari was about to lead Lora deeper into Vanarana, but after only a few steps, several "Fatui" officers approached from behind.
Hearing the movement, Lora turned around. When she saw them drawing near, she was not surprised at all.
"Did Dottore send you?"
The moment she mentioned "Dottore," the officers all showed startled expressions. They exchanged glances, and the one in front coughed awkwardly.
"We're here to gather medicinal herbs from Vanarana!"
"The herbs in Vanarana are not for casual picking," Tighnari said coldly.
It was obvious he had already seen through why these "Fatui" members had come.
"Hmph! Even the Grand Sage might not dare interfere in the affairs of our 'Fatui.' You're just a mere scholar. It would be best if you didn't stand in our way, or the consequences will be severe."
The officer sneered at Tighnari.
Lora looked at the three of them, bent down, and picked up a nearby stone. She weighed it in her hand, then casually traced a throwing arc.
The officer noticed her actions and frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Lora laughed.
"Nothing much. Just giving you a little gift. Go back and tell Dottore that running into me means the Fatui are out of luck."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lora raised the stone high, made a throwing motion, and shouted,
"Planet Befall!!"
Then she hurled the stone.
The moment it left her hand, the stone shot forward like a cannonball, instantly crossing the distance between them and crashing into the ground between the three men, blasting out a massive crater. The terrifying shockwave sent all three Fatui officers sprawling to the ground.
Even Tighnari, standing beside Lora, felt the violent tremor.
"What incredible strength..." he murmured instinctively.
Lora glanced at the officers writhing on the ground, unable to get back up, then turned to Tighnari.
"Let's go. Ignore them. They won't be standing anytime soon."
"O-Okay."
Tighnari nodded and led Lora further inside.
Haypasia was lying within Vanarana, still unconscious.
Looking at her resting on the bed, Tighnari sighed.
"Ever since Haypasia connected to a consciousness said to belong to a god, her condition has only worsened. Now she rarely even wakes up."
Lora reached out and touched Haypasia. Her immense spiritual power directly linked with the lingering mental energy inside Haypasia, using it to connect to Scaramouche's mental space.
"This time, I found you."
Within the illusory spiritual realm, Lora looked at Scaramouche standing before her.
Scaramouche gazed back without the slightest panic.
"Even if you've found me, what can you do? Without returning to your divine seat, even if you possess power beyond mortal reach, to me, who has already become a god, your strength is not that impressive."
"Looks like you're very confident."
Lora smiled faintly.
"Of course! I have nearly completed my full ascension and become a new god! Egeria, let me give you one warning. Stop interfering in Sumeru's affairs. What happens here has nothing to do with you."
"I will become Sumeru's new god, the ruling Archon of this land. The people of Sumeru are the believers I have chosen. How long can a god still in the form of a child possibly resist me? Egeria, what you should be concerned with is Fontaine, not Sumeru."
"I don't need your advice on what I should do. Whether Sumeru's affairs concern me is not for you to decide."
Lora looked calmly at the overly confident Scaramouche.
"For a new god, you seem far too arrogant, Scaramouche."
"My arrogance is naturally backed by strength," Scaramouche replied.
"I'm curious. Since you didn't take the Electro Archon's Gnosis from me, what exactly are you using to contain your divine power?"
"That is none of your concern. Hydro Archon, this is my final warning. You should not interfere in Sumeru's affairs."
Scaramouche had no intention of answering. He severed the mental connection between himself and Lora, and at the same time completely cut off his link with Haypasia, making it impossible for Lora to enter his consciousness through her again.
Lora slowly opened her eyes.
She gently soothed Haypasia's restless heart, as tenderly and warmly as a mother comforting her own child.
After finishing, Lora gave a cold snort and muttered to herself,
"A five-hundred-year-old brat trying to play riddle games with me? No sense of manners at all."
Then she turned to Tighnari.
"Haypasia's body should gradually recover, but she still needs proper rest. I'll leave her to you."
"Please rest assured. This is already my responsibility. I'll take good care of her."
Tighnari nodded.