Dina was currently bouncing around with Lumine like an excited child.
Paimon: Dina seems really happy.
After her excitement, Dina calmed down, then walked up to Qixuan and bowed solemnly, saying, "Thank you so much. I... I never thought..."
Qixuan: Alright, alright. It’s a happy thing that your illness is cured, and Dina can now put more effort into The Sabzeruz Festival, isn't that right?
Dina: You're right. I'm going to find Nilou and Dehya to share this news.
With that, she ran off.
Lumine: It seems she's truly happy.
Nahida: Yes, someone suffering from Eleazar can barely move, and her dream is...
Qixuan: Alright, alright. From the looks of it, Dina should have gone to the Grand Bazaar. Eh? It seems Nilou's Dance of Flowers is about to begin, isn't it?
Paimon: Eh! Oh no, can we still make it?
Lumine: I don't know if we can make it now, but if we don't go, we definitely won't.
After Lumine finished speaking, she grabbed Paimon and ran off. Qixuan glanced at Nahida.
Nahida: You don't need to carry me, I can... Ah!
Qixuan carried Nahida in a princess carry and rushed towards the Grand Bazaar. When everyone arrived, they found that the performance had not yet begun.
Paimon: Huff... Can... can we not do this next time? Eh? What's going on?
Lumine followed Paimon's puzzled voice and saw Dina and Nilou debating with two other sages. Just then, Qixuan arrived, holding Nahida. (Qixuan: Did I arrive late?)
In the distance...
Setaria: There are already laws regarding such performances. Without prior notification, unauthorized events are forbidden. Are you not aware of this?
Dina: But the Dance of Flowers is a fixed part of The Sabzeruz Festival. If it can't be performed, then...
Setaria: The Sabzeruz Festival... privately organizing large-scale divine worship activities is also explicitly forbidden, isn't it? The right to host belongs only to the Akademiya. If you continue to insist like this, we will have no choice but to order an investigation into all organizers of The Sabzeruz Festival.
Nilou: How... how can this be...
Paimon and the others also walked onto the stage.
Lumine: What's going on?
Dina: Ah, you're here. Sigh, that's the Grand Sage. The Sabzeruz Festival should have originally been organized by the Akademiya. It's their fault for not fulfilling their duties all these years. I wanted to argue with them, but... I was too impulsive.
Azar: Art... dance. In this nation of wisdom and reason, pursuing such frivolous and illusory things, do you not feel ashamed?
For all scholars who pursue truth and reality, the divine created Sumeru City as a paradise... yet people like you wish to defile it.
Nilou: No, I believe the divine has never disdained art, just as the God of Flowers once danced for our divine being...
Azar: With your knowledge, I do not believe you are qualified to debate with me. What you should do now is quickly find someone to remove these ridiculous arrangements. After you return, have the scribe draft a law prohibiting public art performances before the next Recognizance Day. At that time, it will be announced to the public via the Akasha.
Setaria: Yes, I will notify them when I return.
Then the two left.
Paimon: Uwaah! I'm so mad! That old man looks really mean.
Nilou shook her head and said, "The Grand Sage is also acting impartially. We truly... are not qualified to organize this."
Nilou: Dina, and everyone, the Grand Sage has demanded that we stop the performance...
Dina: Hmm...
Nilou: How about we perform somewhere else, a place where the Akademiya people can't find us? Ah, but how would we notify the audience... and the atmosphere and scenery...
Or... we could just find people to stand outside and prevent them from interrupting the performance. Hmm, no, they just threatened to investigate the organizers. If we're discovered...
Dina: It's alright, Nilou, it's fine.
Nilou: But, Dina, you've been looking forward to this Dance of Flowers so much. I know this The Sabzeruz Festival is very important to you, and I don't want you to have any regrets...
Dina: At most, it's a bit of a pity. Of course, there are some regrets, but I have good news to tell you.
Nilou: Eh?
Dina whispered a few words into Nilou's ear.
Nilou: Really?! That's great.
Nilou hugged Dina and said, "I'm so happy for you."
Dina: Nilou, just having you consider me like this already makes me very happy.
After her excitement, Nilou realized there was still a thorny issue. Dina saw the troubled expression on Nilou's face.
Dina: It is indeed too risky to continue The Sabzeruz Festival now. I don't want to implicate everyone...
At this moment... Qixuan and Nahida in the distance.
Qixuan: This Grand Sage's ambition is quite significant, isn't it?
Nahida: Although he is a bit extreme, he is still doing it for the future of Sumeru. It's just that his method is wrong.
Qixuan: So, how do you plan to resolve it?
Nahida: I believe they will make the right choice.
...
Nilou: So now...
Dina: Although it's a bit regrettable not to see Nilou's Dance of Flowers, let's not force it.
Paimon: Nooo~
Lumine: Alright Paimon, let's go back for now. We can figure something out later.
Paimon: That's the only way.
Nahida: ... ... *cough cough*.
Qixuan: Pfft... haha.
Everyone returned to their lodging.
Paimon: Sigh, so many things happened today, but it ended so regrettably...
Lumine: All in all, Dina's illness is cured, and she has plenty of time. Besides, Dina should also understand the Grand Sage's intentions.
Paimon: So tomorrow we should...
Lumine: Alright, alright, let's rest first.
Lumine and Paimon rested early, while the lights were still on in Qixuan and Nahida's room.
Qixuan: It's coming.
Nahida: Mm.
Just then, a voice echoed in the minds of everyone wearing an Akasha Terminal.
【Ensuring all connections, constructing the highest stability architecture.】
【The plan】 is entering its most critical phase, beginning power export from 【--】.
After the voice ended, Nahida opened her eyes.
Qixuan: *cough cough*... The creation process for all things is complete~
Nahida: ?
Qixuan: My apologies, my apologies. I couldn't resist for a moment.
Then the two, oh no, the two divine beings, rested.
The next morning...
Paimon: (Yawn)--It's all your fault for oversleeping, we're going to be late! Let's hurry and meet up with Dina.
After eating the breakfast prepared by Nahida, the two set off together to meet Dina.
...
Paimon: Hey there, good morning, Dina! Sorry, sorry, we're late!
Dina: Not at all, I just arrived too early.
Paimon: You look a bit off... Did you not sleep well?
Dina: I'm fine, I'm fine. It's just... *sigh*, never mind. Shall we go? Let's check out the stall over there first.
At this moment, Lumine felt a bit dizzy.
Paimon: Hmm? Lumine, what are you spacing out for? Let's go!
Lumine looked at Qixuan and Nahida, who were still beside her, then shook her head, thinking, "Maybe I'm overthinking it."
...
Paimon: Wow! There seems to be something delicious over there, let's go check it out!
Lumine: Didn't you eat enough this morning?
Paimon: Hehe, it's all digested!
Dina: Haha, since Paimon is hungry, let's go take a look first.
Everyone arrived at the stall.
Dina: Wow, this is... a stall selling Seven-Spice Table dishes!
Amar (Boss): Haha, you can tell just by looking! I thought not many people knew about it nowadays, hehe.
Paimon: Wow, Mushrooms, flowers, various fruits, these are all vegetarian!
Qixuan: Aren't you hungry? Hurry and eat, it can even help you lose weight.
Paimon: Hmm... I'm not fat! So what's this Seven-Spice Table that Dina mentioned?
Nahida: Paimon, this is a custom of The Sabzeruz Festival, you know.
Dina: That's right, just like how everyone used to set out seven dishes on the table... Generally, the most common ones are Nilotpala Lotus, Sumeru Rose, and Viparyas.
Paimon: Wow, so The Sabzeruz Festival is a festival for eating fruits and vegetables!
Dina: Hehe... It doesn't mean you can only eat these. These seven dishes are just meant to symbolize the seven virtues of Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Paimon: Hmm, I'm thinking... if the divine being of the Dendro Nation is symbolized by various fruits and vegetables... will the festival in the Pyro Nation be all about roasted meat? Like grilled meatballs, Steak, and so on... Lumine, Qixuan-jie, how about we move up our trip to Natlan!
Lumine: (Speechless look).
Qixuan: No, it's missing a roasted Paimon.
Paimon: Hmm... hehe.
Dina: Hahaha... Paimon really loves to eat!
Paimon: Alright, shall we go check out other stalls?
Everyone walked to a fortune teller's stall.
Qimiya (Boss): Would you like to try Alchemy Divination, ladies and gentlemen?
Paimon: Alchemy Divination? Sounds like a strange combination.
Qimiya: Right? I thought so too when I first encountered it. Legend says it was invented by Lesser Lord Kusanali, and it's full of mysteries.
Nahida: ?
Paimon: So... how exactly does it work?
Qimiya: The process is simple. Please, guests, take any two items from your person that can be used as alchemy materials, and then I'll perform a random alchemy.
Paimon: That's really random, isn't it? If it's that random, won't it definitely fail?
Qimiya: Uh-huh! Failure is the point. This divination method interprets the appearance of the dust after the alchemy fails.
Lumine: I just feel... it's a bit unreliable.
Dina: Hmm... In Lesser Lord Kusanali's view, all things in the world are interconnected. Everything can point to destiny.
Paimon: How come it sounds so much more reliable when Dina says it? You two... you're not in cahoots, are you?
Qimiya: Oh~~~ So there's such a deep meaning. This young lady knows a lot. How about it? Do you want to try?
Qixuan: Why not give it a try?
Lumine: Then let's try.
Paimon took out a flower she picked in Liyue, while Lumine took out a moon-shaped flower.
Qimiya: Alright, just a moment... Hmm? It's... the moon.
Paimon: Let me see too... Is it? Why do I feel like it's a pancake that someone took a bite out of?
Qixuan: As expected, everything turns into food in Paimon's eyes.
Lumine: A true glutton, through and through.
Paimon: You two!
Qimiya: Hmm... The moon generally means... wait a moment...
Then Qimiya turned around and started flipping through something.
Paimon: Is he secretly looking in a book?
Qimiya suddenly turned around with a look of realization and said, "Oh, I remember now, it means illusion and lies."
Dina: Illusion and lies... That doesn't sound like a good outcome...
Nahida: Hmm... Does this mean...
Qimiya: However, the book says that as long as you trust your intuition and overcome the fear in your heart, the sun will surely rise.
Paimon: ...It seems he's no longer hiding the fact that he's looking in a book.
Dina: ...Indeed, destiny will always only show you the surface. You still have to reach the ending on your own. Hehe, thank you very much, I will take it into consideration.
Qimiya: Ah... not at all, I'm just learning as I go, haha... haha.
Paimon: Hmm..., that's not bad either. Let's go to the next stop.
Everyone left the stall?
Dina: Speaking of which, a long, long time ago, The Sabzeruz Festival day used to be very lively, with people coming and going.
And there would be giant artists parading through the city, with people along the way throwing fresh flowers, as well as candy and fine wine. The floats would then go all the way to Port Ormos...
Paimon: Dina's eyes seem to be sparkling.
Dina: Hehe, it's a bit like a net, but I believe Nilou's Dance of Flowers won't be inferior to that scene.
As they talked, everyone walked to another stall... only this stall had many children in front of it.
Qixuan and Nahida were watching from behind.
Qixuan: Indeed, acting is so tiring. Nilou is truly persistent.
Nahida: To break a dream, the dreamer themselves needs to realize they are dreaming. But... why Nilou?
Qixuan: Nilou is your loyal devotee. Since the Akademiya has no way to deal with you and can only imprison you, isn't it simple to deal with a devotee? Weaving dreams and stopping her again and again. She is both the most loyal and the easiest to control.
Nahida: That explains it. With Nilou's dream as the main focus, we can control everyone wearing an Akasha Terminal.
...