Alright, so we're once again out in the middle of the desert—as if this is a perfectly reasonable hobby. Together with the Anubis Cosplayer (Cyno), the Biceps Scholar (Alhaitham) and the future budget Nahida (Isak), we march forward like a very unqualified search party.
Greg perches proudly on my shoulder like he's the official mascot of this disaster. Honestly, he kind of is.
Standing near a cliff, totally not about to cause chaos (we are absolutely going to cause chaos), we begin planning how to find the missing scholars and totally not trigger another desert-wide incident.
"So... any chance we can solve this by just sending them a really threatening letter?" I whisper to Lumine.
She gives me the blank "stop talking" stare.
Paimon hovers in front of us. "So, where do we go from here?"
Lumine looks over to Cyno. "Cyno, do you remember the route you took?"
Cyno nods sharply. "Yes. After leaving the village, we should head straight toward the desert."
"Ah, classic direction," I nod. "Forward."
Nilou smiles. "At least the skies are clear today. Maybe that means good luck."
Greg flicks his tail twice. Translation: you sweet summer child.
We follow behind Cyno like ducks in a sandstorm.
Isak pipes up proudly, "I know the desert like the back of my hand!"
Paimon squints. "Is that because you play here a lot?"
"Yup!" Isak beams. "One time, Grandpa almost got lost in the desert, but I was the one who brought him back."
I whistle. "Respect. Even I got lost trying to find the bathroom in Sumeru City once. Lumine had to drag me out of an alley because I kept following a cat."
Lumine sighs. "You did follow that cat for ten minutes straight."
"It had potential," I say.
After a while, Cyno suddenly stops. "There's something here."
He crouches. "What's this...?"
Alhaitham adjusts his gloves. "It's buried in the sand. Looks like we'll need to roll up our sleeves and do some work."
Paimon groans. "And Paimon thought running around everywhere was enough work!"
I cross my arms. "Now isn't the time for complaining, Paimon." (Yes, I said it. Personal growth. Proud of myself. Might retire after this moment.)
She pouts, "Okay, okay... So we have to dig it out? Whatever's down there looks like it's buried really deep."
Nilou crouches beside me and smiles encouragingly. "Don't worry. We can handle this—let's dig it up slowly, alright?"
Greg shifts his weight like, Sure, you guys dig. I'll be supervising.
We all get to work and after wrestling with the desert itself, we haul something out of the sand.
Alhaitham eyes it closely. "These are likely fragments of an Akademiya-developed device, something akin to a headset. Looks like there were more than one Village Keeper. They must have been escorted this way, because device fragments are scattered around here."
He straightens. "Let's split up and search the area. We're likely to find other things nearby."
Everyone scatters. A few minutes later I dig up another weird thing. It looks like a cross between an alarm clock and something that curses your entire bloodline.
I hold it up. "Great. Cursed artifacts after cursed artifacts! Perfect pieces to lead us straight to our demise!"
Lumine smacks me in the back of the head. Again.
"Hey! That's emotional abuse."
"It's physical," she answers flatly, walking past me.
Paimon floats closer and squints. "Is this what we're searching for? It looks kinda scary..."
Alhaitham nods. "This is definitely a device used to extract divine knowledge."
Cyno narrows his eyes. "How did it end up buried in the sand? That can't have been part of the plan. They must've been attacked along the way."
Paimon gasps. "Wait, what!?"
Isak clutches his shirt. "Grandpa... I hope you're okay..."
Nilou gently pats his shoulder. "He's going to be fine. We'll find him."
Paimon quickly pats him too. "Yeah! Don't worry, your grandpa's super tough!"
Alhaitham observes the device. "Razak didn't show signs of starvation or dehydration, which means they left fairly recently."
Cyno nods. "We should be able to catch up."
Alhaitham brushes sand off his coat. "One more thing: given that the device was entirely covered by sand, I believe the attack must have happened prior to the sandstorm."
I nod, very seriously. "Agreed. The sediment layering clearly indicates pre-storm deposition."
(Everyone stares at me.)
"...What? I can be smart sometimes."
Greg snorts. Actually snorts. Betrayal.
Cyno clears his throat. "Let's keep going. They can't have gone far."
We follow him once again.
Paimon groans. "Ugh, but running on sand is so tiring..."
Isak blinks. "But... you're flying, aren't you, Paimon? Is flying over sand tiring too?"
Paimon throws her hands up. "Aaagh—of course it is...!"
I nod solemnly. "Yeah. Sand is emotionally heavy. Even for those who float."
Lumine sighs. "I don't even want to know what that means."
Eventually we approach a dilapidated building.
Cyno stops. "Voices. Over there... It sounds like an argument."
Paimon gasps. "Whoa, you have really good ears..."
Nilou leans toward me and whispers, "Should we... sneak closer?"
I grin. "Great! Either we get to punch our way through an ambush, or we run away screaming because it's a ghost. If it's a ghost, I'm grabbing Blondie and Goddess and fleeing to safety."
Paimon glares at me. "So you'll abandon Paimon, huh?!"
I scratch the back of my head. "Hey, someone has to stay behind and stall the ghost."
Lumine sighs. "You're unbelievable."
Nilou giggles softly, squeezing my arm. "Don't worry, we'll get through this— and I'll be right beside you.""
Greg flicks his tail. Probably judging me. Again.
Honestly, at this point I'm convinced he's writing a mental report titled 'All the Reasons Why This Human Should Not Be Left Unattended.'
And yet... we keep moving toward the voices anyway.
Because apparently we never learn.
***
lowly, we crept closer to the source of the voices. In my mind, dramatic background music was already playing— the kind you hear right before everything goes horribly wrong. Part of me was already drafting my very own "lost in the desert" memoir, complete with tragic illustrations and a foreword written by Greg. Out of pure instinct (or cowardice depending on who you ask), I threw my arm around Lumine's shoulder and scooped Nilou up with my other like I was carrying emergency supplies.
Alhaitham immediately sighed. The kind of sigh that said "I've given up on understanding this man."
Lumine squirmed a bit. "Shigeru— seriously, let go."
I whispered, "Shh. Safety procedures. If something jumps out, I can sacrifice myself after tossing you both to a safer direction."
Nilou blinked up at me and quietly leaned against my shoulder anyway. Greg sat on top of my head like a lizard-shaped helmet, slowly blinking like he's mentally preparing a will.
Paimon crossed her arms, whispering, "You better not drop us if it's something scary..."
I whispered back, "No promises. It depends on the level of horror."
We got close enough to hear everything clearly.
Cyno raised a hand. "Don't get any closer. They'll notice us."
Alhaitham narrowed his eyes. "Dehya's talking with the Eremites? Interesting... let's listen."
We listened in silence. My brain was screaming a thousand theories at once (and none of them were helpful, by the way—one of them was just "what if they're arguing over who gets the last pita bread?"), ranging from "Dehya is secretly undercover" to "we just walked into a desert soap opera."
Even Greg stayed perfectly still like a surveillance turret. In my head, every worst-case scenario started playing like a badly edited documentary— complete with dramatic zoom-ins and ominous narrator voiceovers about "unfortunate adventurers who should've minded their own business."
Dehya was saying, "...If you had informed me sooner, there'd be plenty of room for us to—"
Rahman's voice cut in. "...You're one of us. We would never lie..."
Dehya replied, "Scholars... you don't know as much as I do... need me to—"
Rahman laughed. "Haha, I knew it... that's our Dehya..."
Isak whispered beside me. "Dehya... why would she..."
Paimon leaned closer to my ear and hissed, "Maybe she's undercover? Or maybe she's actually the final boss—"
Then louder, "Dehya!!!"
Paimon flailed. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
Dehya turned around. "Huh?"
Isak shouted, "Didn't you say you'd help me find Grandpa?! W‑Why are you on their side?!"
Rahman smirked. "Well, look who's here. Ain't that something."
Dehya groaned. "This complicates things."
Cyno stepped forward. "...You've betrayed Aaru Village?"
My heart did a little somersault. Not the cool kind—more like the "tripping over air" kind. For a brief second I wondered if this was the part where things explode and we have to sprint while yelling dramatic one-liners.
Rahman laughed again. "So this is the great General Mahamatra." He turned to Dehya. "You'd be better off assisting me than hanging around with this motley crew."
Dehya crossed her arms. "I'm not that easy to sway, Rahman."
Paimon pointed accusingly. "Wait— what's going on, Dehya? Whose side are you on?!"
Dehya glared. "Shut it, Paimon."
Nilou frowned softly beside me. "Dehya... you wouldn't really abandon Aaru Village... right?"
Rahman waved a hand dismissively. "Doesn't matter. Nothing can deter us from resurrecting King Deshret."
Dehya snapped back, "Face the facts, Rahman. It's not going to happen."
Rahman growled something about faith and conviction. Dehya countered. They argued. Cyno muttered, "It's impossible to communicate with someone so hostile."
I stepped forward eagerly. "So... what now, Cyno? Is it punching time already? Is it— IS IT?!"
Nilou pinched my arm hard while still in my hold. "Shigeru, behave." Her cheeks puffed out in a tiny pout.
I immediately put her and Lumine down and raised my hands in surrender. "Whatever you say, Goddess."
Greg flicked his tail like he approved this decision, then slowly rotated on my head like he's preparing for round two of judgment.
Lumine muttered under her breath, "You were way too excited about the punching option..."
I shrugged. "It's my coping mechanism."
Paimon huffed. "Well cope quieter, you'll get us noticed!"
Nilou stepped beside me, gently taking my hand. "Let's stay calm. We'll figure this out together."
Greg gave a single nod. Even the lizard believes in team effort. And yet, deep down, I could already feel the chaos meter rising— we were definitely about to trigger something incredibly stupid. Somewhere out there, the gods were probably placing bets on how fast we'd mess this up. Honestly, if I listen closely, I swear I can hear Morax sipping tea and saying, "Ten mora on Shigeru tripping first."
Alhaitham's hand landed on my shoulder just as I was about to commit to the age-old tradition of solving problems via strategic violence.
"Come on, Mr. Biceps!" I whined, halfway into a dramatic lunging pose. "Let me at 'em! I swear I'll only break a few ribs—maybe a kneecap if I'm feeling merciful!"
He didn't even spare me a look. Just sighed the sigh of a man burdened with too many muscles and too little patience. "Shut up, idiot. Let me handle this."
I blinked. Rude. Accurate. But still rude.
Greg, perched on my shoulder, gave a single tail slap to the back of my head. Betrayal.
"I'm surrounded by traitors," I muttered, sulking as I reluctantly stepped back. "Remind me to file a formal complaint to the Sumeru Bureau of Internal Sass."
Alhaitham marched forward like he was built out of square roots and tax regulations — all cool logic and cold composure. That guy probably files his emotions alphabetically.
"Do you really believe that by kidnapping the scholars, you'll be able to negotiate with the Akademiya?" he asked, locking eyes with Rahman.
Lumine stiffened beside me. "Wait... Alhaitham?"
Nilou tilted her head. "He's going off-script again, isn't he?"
"Definitely," I whispered. "But in a very 'I'm about to outsmart everyone in the room and look hot doing it' kinda way."
Alhaitham continued, unbothered. "These people have no value as bargaining chips, but I could be persuaded to take their place as your next hostage. These scholars were exiled from the Akademiya. I, on the other hand, am their current scribe and will be a much greater asset to you."
Dehya took a step forward. "Wait, you can't be serious."
Rahman narrowed his eyes. "So, you wanna trade places with the hostages, do ya?"
"Precisely. Any wise person would gladly accept my offer."
Paimon flailed like she was trying to signal a ship for help. "What're you thinking!? What if they decide to kill you instead!?"
Alhaitham actually shrugged. "Well, that would be bad luck for me. However, I'd get the chance to observe the scholars — perhaps even find out the truth."
"Dude's really out here speedrunning hostage situations," I mumbled. "Respect."
Greg flicked his tongue like he agreed, then dramatically laid across my head like a martyr preparing for war.
Cyno stayed silent, but the way his grip tightened around his polearm said, "I am five seconds away from doing something incredibly lawful and violent."
Rahman sneered. "Think you can talk me over with that confident look of yours?"
"I'm not trying to persuade you," Alhaitham replied calmly. "I'm using this as a means of joining forces against the Akademiya."
Rahman scoffed. "You are their scribe. What do you have against the Akademiya?"
"Not all desert-dwellers believe in King Deshret, and the same applies to the Akademiya. Why must all knowledge-seekers approve of the Akademiya's way of doing things?"
"Bars," I muttered, nodding. "Dude talks like a lecture, but sometimes it hits."
Lumine elbowed me lightly. "Maybe you should take notes."
I gasped. "Are you saying I don't sound smart when I argue with lizard statues and scream at walls?"
"…Yes."
Greg nodded in agreement. Et tu, reptile?
Rahman barked a laugh. "Hah… hahaha! You Akademiya scum! Every last one of you is nothing but a hypocrite, just like everyone else on the other side of that wall! I've made myself clear enough… I won't listen to another word from the Dendro Archon's people."
Dehya stepped up. "Not so fast."
She looked at Alhaitham with fire in her gaze. "Do you stand by everything you just said?"
Alhaitham nodded. "I never make empty promises."
"You know you're making a dangerous decision, right?"
"I do."
"Good. Rahman, hear me out." She pointed at us. "These people are my friends. Maybe you can't take the followers of the Dendro Archon at their word, but what about me? Do you trust me?"
Rahman hesitated, then grunted. "We've known each other for years. Of course I do."
"In that case," Dehya said, lifting her right arm without flinching, "I'm willing to vouch for their honesty with my right arm."
Rahman's eyes narrowed. "…"
A heavy silence dropped like a boulder on my brain. Even Greg stopped breathing. Or maybe he was playing dead. Hard to tell.
Paimon flailed again. "Don't listen to him! He's not even trying to negotiate, he just wants to make things more difficult!"
Dehya's voice came out calm. "…That's fine."
Paimon exploded. "Are you CRAZY!?"
Lumine's fists clenched. "That's not a deal, that's extortion."
Nilou stepped forward now, her tone soft but unwavering. "We came here to help, not watch a friend lose something important. There has to be another way."
My thoughts spun like a broken Ruin Guard on stilts. "Okay, okay. Time out. Let's all just collectively agree not to start lopping off limbs today, yeah? I left my trauma insurance in Mondstadt."
Rahman tilted his head with that annoying desert-bandit smirk. "Sure. Go ahead and cut off her right arm."
Oh hell no.
I cracked my neck, stepping forward with a grin that screamed someone's about to regret life choices.
"Yo, biceps scholar," I muttered, eyes locked on Rahman. "Perhaps you won't stop me this time, yeah?"
Greg crawled onto the top of my head and stood tall — well, as tall as a lizard could get — like a tiny, furious commander giving the go-ahead for carnage.
Lumine pulled out her weapon, her expression cold enough to freeze Sumeru.
Nilou stepped beside me, smiling gently — too gently. Like a spring breeze that could turn into a tornado in the blink of an eye. That was somehow… oddly terrifying.
"Just say the word," I growled, rolling my shoulders with cracked knuckles. "Because if anyone even thinks about touching the Flame Mommy…"
I jabbed a thumb toward the nearest sand dune.
"…I'll personally feed them to the angriest, hungriest sandstorm I can find. And I will watch. With popcorn."
Greg gave an approving chirp.
_______________
End of Chapter 125
Quests Completed:
*Join Cyno, Alhaitham, and Isak in tracking down the missing Village Keepers through the sands. Investigate buried devices and follow the trail of fragmented divine-knowledge extractors.
*dentify the sand layering around the buried device and correctly deduce it happened prior to the last sandstorm. Truly a rare display of actual intelligence.
*Allow Greg to climb onto your head in the middle of a tense stealth approach, gaining +3 Courage and +20% Lizard Aura.
*Resist the urge to immediately punch Rahman when negotiations begin (only barely, and only because Alhaitham physically stopped you).
*Impress your entire party (and confuse Paimon) by saying something philosophical about the nature of faith and weaponized belief.
Rewards:
*Adventure EXP: +5,000
*Mora +20,000 (Buried along with the device. Jackpot.)
*Companionship EXP: +450 (Lumine, Nilou, Paimon, Greg)
*Fragmented Divine Extractor ×1
*Greg's Battle Chirp (ATK +10% vs morally questionable enemies)
*Greg's Lizard Helmet (Temporary Buff: +2 Perception, +1 Sass when Greg sits on head)
*Nilou's Soft Smile (Removes 1 stack of Stress, +2 Calm)
*Lumine's Protective Glare (Negates first hostile smack)
*Alhaitham's Shoulder Sigh (–15% Impulsive Action, 1h cooldown)
*Cyno's Approval Nod (+5% Intimidation / +5% Awkward Silence during jokes)
*Mysterious Pita Crumb (Restores 2 HP, causes minor party suspicion)