Liyue, the Stratum Abyss.
Aether and Nahida stood at the border between the Stratum Abyss and Sumeru. The passage before them was carved through layers of bioluminescent crystal, glowing faintly with hues of teal and violet. It looked less like a tunnel and more like the throat of some ancient, dreaming beast.
Through that crystalline tunnel, they stepped into the land of Sumeru.
As soon as Nahida returned, she felt her connection to the land surge back like roots meeting soil after a long drought. The energy of the Dendro Archon pulsed in her veins, resonating with the breath of the forest. Vines unfurled in her wake, trees seemed to lean forward, and distant birds let out melodic cries.
Aether, dressed in a white hooded windbreaker that fluttered lightly in the breeze, looked around, his golden eyes scanning the vibrant green landscape. The humid scent of moss and flowers surrounded them.
"Nahida, we're in Huachengguo," he said.
Nahida nodded gently, her voice soft with emotion. "Finally... I'm back. I hope everything goes well this time."
"Don't worry," Aether said with quiet confidence. "I'll help you, Nahida."
She smiled, comforted. "With your words, I feel much more at ease. Thank you, Aether."
He gave a nod. "Come on, let's go into Huachengguo."
Aether and Nahida then prepared themselves as they ventured forth.
They walked past the towering Seven Heavens Statue, its enormous visage watching silently over the land, and arrived at the gates of Huachengguo—a city now fully integrated into the Void System, its streets flowing with luminous pathways and automated patrol drones.
Most residents here were forest rangers, responsible for protecting the surrounding rainforest, marking danger zones, and clearing out monsters born from lingering forbidden knowledge. The gates were heavily guarded.
As the two approached, they were stopped by two rangers in sleek green uniforms, armed with Dendro-based weapons and Void terminals attached to their ears.
"Halt. Please show me your ID," one ranger demanded.
Aether calmly pulled out his ID and handed it over. The ranger scanned it with his Void terminal, then frowned.
"Sir, please return the way you came. This ID is outdated. It expired... centuries ago."
He turned it around, showing the holographic projection of the validity period—Year 0, during the Cataclysm.
Aether smacked his forehead. He had forgotten to update his ID ever since joining the Abyss. The one he just handed over was the same he used 500 years ago when he first came to Teyvat.
As for Nahida—well, she didn't even have an ID to begin with.
It was almost comical. Nahida, the Archon of Sumeru, couldn't even enter her own city.
They stood awkwardly a short distance from the gate, the jungle wind rustling their clothes.
Nahida broke the silence. "Perhaps I should handle this. They're all wearing the Void System."
She had noticed the earpieces on the rangers. The system was vulnerable to her control; she could forge temporary identities with ease. Sumeru's dependence on the system was so complete that no one would suspect a thing.
But Aether held out his hand. "Nahida, wait. Watch and learn. This is what we call human social art."
He pulled a bag of Mora from his pocket and gave it a subtle shake.
Nahida tilted her head. "Are you going to pay them to let us through though?"
"Not pay. Just... offer an incentive."
Striding back to the gate with new confidence, he smiled broadly at the rangers.
"Hey, brothers, I'm just here for a little sightseeing in Sumeru. I'm a good, law-abiding guy. I just... forgot my papers. Any chance you could make an exception today?"
As he spoke, he slipped the bag of Mora discreetly into the ranger's coat pocket.
The ranger felt the weight, touched his pocket, and gave a mysterious smile.
Aether returned the smile with a knowing look, glancing back at Nahida with an expression that screamed, See? Easy. That's human social art.
Then the ranger's voice turned cold.
"You tried to bribe a forest ranger. That's a serious offense. The bribe will be confiscated. Come with us. We'll have some tea together."
Aether froze. What?! This wasn't part of the script!
He quickly let go of the ranger's arm and scratched his head sheepishly.
"Bribe? No, no, that was tea money! You know, for snacks, rope polish, morale—Ahaha...! I've got... other things to do! Gotta go!"
He bolted back to Nahida in utter disgrace, eyes wide.
Nahida blinked, looking up at him with calm curiosity. "Was that your 'social art'? It didn't seem very effective."
Aether sighed. He couldn't argue. He had failed—hard.
Nahida quietly wondered if sending Aether was really the best choice His Majesty Asmodeus could make. Ying probably would've handled this better.
"Let me handle it," Nahida said, preparing to access the Void System.
Divine light shimmered from her form, her hair glowing softly, feet barely touching the ground as her power activated.
Then suddenly—Aether yanked her away.
"Wait! I've got another idea! The main road's blocked, but who said anything about roads? Let me scout a different path."
Nahida raised an eyebrow. "You're going to climb over the wall?"
"Exactly! Easy peasy."
With that, he turned to the cliff nearby and leapt off.
Over ten minutes later...
Aether returned, clothes torn, leaves stuck to him, and a few bird droppings staining his hood. Apparently, he tried to climb a tree to bypass the walls, only to be spotted and knocked into a valley by a ranger drone.
Luckily, thick bushes broke his fall. If he'd hit the river below, things might've ended differently.
Nahida gave him a quiet, unreadable stare.
"Do you have any other plans?"
Aether shook his head, defeated.
With a small sigh, Nahida activated the Void System and forged IDs for both of them. She picked up two fallen leaves and transformed them into physical ID cards.
"Let's try another entrance."
She handed Aether his card, and the two successfully entered Huachengguo without further trouble.
Inside the city, Nahida wandered slowly, her eyes wide with wonder. The ancient architecture of Sumeru had merged with Void System technology—glowing veins of energy ran through wooden lattice structures, and hanging gardens were suspended with anti-gravity nodes.
For so long, she had only seen this land through the eyes of birds. Now, to see it herself... it was overwhelming. Beautiful. Bittersweet.
Then her gaze caught on a small girl with short green hair sitting on the edge of a medicinal stall, looking down at her hands.
Sadness clouded Nahida's expression.
The girl had magic scale disease.
Her name was Collei. She had just left her mentor, Tighnari, after receiving one of his specially brewed medicinal soups. Though the medicine couldn't cure her completely, it eased her symptoms—an herbal blend to soothe the corrupted energy festering in her body.
Nearby, Aether munched on grilled mushroom skewers he bought from a vendor, noticing Nahida's strange expression.
"What's wrong, Nahida?"
She pointed gently. "That girl... she has magic scale disease."
Aether blinked, recalling the term. "Ah... the one related to forbidden knowledge."
Nahida looked up at him. "You know about forbidden knowledge?"
Aether puffed his chest a little. "Have you forgotten who I used to be? The noble prince of the Abyss."
"Then do you know how to cure it?"
He shrugged, smiling. "Nope~" He bit into his skewer with satisfaction.
Nahida was speechless.