Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [191]

"Mm."

Ren sighed helplessly and nodded.

Gone again, huh? I don't even have the energy to complain anymore.

"My little friend? Why bring her up?"

He tightened his arms around the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, speaking in a muffled voice.

Don't even think about running. Got it?

"Who's your little friend?"

Rukkhadevata gave him a light slap.

Can you be serious for once?

She had been preparing to speak about something important, but the atmosphere she had carefully built up was completely ruined.

Shaking her head, she continued:

"The Irminsul has been healed. I originally planned to return the dreams to the people of Sumeru."

"But to give Nahida more experience, I will remain for now."

Ren nodded.

Returning the dreams would render the Akasha Terminals useless.

Without the Akasha, the Sages of the Akademiya would be thrown into chaos, crumbling without the need for external pressure.

For the little Grass God, this would be a challenge on kindergarten difficulty.

So, only after Nahida had fully taken control of the Akademiya would Rukkhadevata return the dreams.

A mother's love and foresight, truly.

Nahida: ?

"So, what are you planning to do?" Ren asked.

"Nothing much. Just showing you something."

Rukkhadevata glanced at Ren's helpless expression, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile.

The God of Wisdom had casually made a small joke.

Of course, it was also a way to ease the tension before their next conversation.

At her fingertips, a vibrant green glow emerged.

Beautiful and radiant, as if it could reflect all things in the world.

It was the power of dreams woven together from the entirety of Sumeru.

"This is the authority left behind by the Flower God in her final moments."

From within the glow, Rukkhadevata plucked a delicate, violet-red blossom.

"Padisarah—the Flower God's favorite flower."

"The Flower God was the Primordial Sprite."

"She was graceful and elegant, yearning for freedom and truth."

Rukkhadevata gently stroked the petals, her gaze soft.

"That impressive, huh?"

Ren stared at the flower, momentarily lost in thought.

But no matter how powerful… it didn't matter.

"Don't be a god anymore. This job is way too dangerous."

For once, Ren sounded a little sentimental.

In a world full of blades, even gods weren't spared.

Look at this—he hadn't even met the Flower God, and she was already gone.

All that remained was a beautiful flower. What use was that?

Nope. No thanks.

"Not be a god?"

Rukkhadevata's gaze flickered at his words.

She turned slightly, giving him a surprised look.

Ren himself had already gained divine authority, half a step into godhood.

And yet, his attitude toward gods was…

Of course, she didn't mean the kind of attitude where he dared to be irreverent, hands-on, and blatantly disrespectful.

Rather…

Rebellion. Resistance.

The Flower God had been the same when she was still here.

"I was just saying," Ren explained.

He almost forgot—he was currently holding one of the Seven.

Wasn't this just asking to get himself into trouble?

However, to Ren's surprise—

"You're right. I won't be a god."

Rukkhadevata spoke with an air of ease, her smile growing even gentler.

"You're not going to interfere anymore?"

Now it was Ren's turn to be surprised.

"With Nahida here, she will take my place as the diligent god of Sumeru."

Rukkhadevata blinked playfully, already planning out Nahida's future workload.

Listening to her analysis, Ren, an experienced slacker, could only shake his head.

Nahida's still just a kid!

"You're going to slack off too?"

Wait, too?

"Heh… Aren't the other gods the same?"

"Inaction is also a choice, a stance."

Rukkhadevata thought of the Anemo, Geo, and Electro Archons, murmuring meaningfully.

The Padisarah in her fingers swayed slightly, as if silently responding.

"What do you mean?"

Ren didn't understand and asked directly.

"The sky above Teyvat is false."

Rukkhadevata leaned close to his ear and whispered.

"?"

Ren cupped her face in his hands and gave it a squeeze.

Oh, so we're doing riddles again, huh?

"I can't say too much—you understand."

"If it weren't for a certain existence falling silent, I wouldn't be telling you this at all."

Rukkhadevata smiled faintly.

Wisdom… was the enemy of the God of Wisdom.

That statement was no exaggeration.

Knowing too much would get one silenced.

Along with the entire civilization of Sumeru.

"Am I allowed to speak?"

Ren looked at her, testing the waters.

Better not blurt out something he shouldn't—that would be fun.

Rukkhadevata nodded and then added:

"You… are not recorded in the Irminsul."

The moment she said this—

"!"

Ren's heart pounded.

What did she mean? The secret that he didn't belong to this world…

"No need to worry, my sun."

"First, take a guess—who is the silent existence?"

Rukkhadevata held Ren's hand gently, her voice soothing.

It didn't matter where he came from—their souls were already bound together by an unbreakable bond.

She was already his.

Ren felt a ripple in his heart and took a deep breath.

"…Celestia?"

He met her gaze, testing his answer.

"You guessed right."

Rukkhadevata's fingertips moved slightly, drawing a checkmark on his chest.

"The riddle game begins now."

"This puzzle was left by the Flower God—and it is also my trial for you."

She placed the Padisarah beside her, smiling.

Ren caught her small hand, rubbing it in retaliation.

A 'false' sky. A silent Celestia.

What kind of nonsense was this?

"Anything else, my little friend?"

Ren chuckled, motioning for more hints.

"My big friend…"

"Running out of chances already, and now you're asking for help?"

Rukkhadevata smirked in amusement, tapping his chest.

She looked forward to seeing Ren struggle, helpless and frustrated.

Just like her, back when she fought against the creeping corruption.

The thought alone was delightful.

"…I'll think a little more."

Ren felt an itch in his mind.

He realized—only by answering this step correctly would the next clue unlock.

"The earlier hints are already enough for me to deduce?"

He muttered, lost in thought.

A moment of silence.

"Finished thinking?" The little friend urged.

"I guess… Celestia is using the Irminsul to monitor this world."

"The Irminsul reflects the rules of this world."

Ren spoke.

"…You're quite smart."

Rukkhadevata clapped her hands lightly, about to give the next hint.

But Ren didn't stop.

"Irminsul is monitoring… No, recording."

"And that's where the wisdom of the Grass God comes from."

His eyes burned as he looked at her, tightening his grip on her hand.

Rukkhadevata's gaze flickered with surprise.

The Padisarah at her side trembled slightly.

Ren's reasoning was fast.

But that wasn't all.

"Recording… is for the day everything is restored."

"For everything to return to the beginning—"

"Including the 'false' sky."

Rukkhadevata's expression changed dramatically.

She reached out and pressed a finger to his lips.

"Stop talking."

The air turned heavy.

They locked eyes in silence.

"Heh… I touched the edge of it, didn't I?"

Ren playfully bit her fingertip, a mischievous grin on his lips.

Back in Columbia's dreamscape, he had witnessed the collapse of the world firsthand.

If everything in Teyvat was a cycle…

"You…!"

Rukkhadevata's eyes widened slightly.

"You rebellious little friend, are you planning to resist—"

"The existence above the heavens?"