The two found Farris, the Knight of Flowers.
"Vigard: Eh? You're back. I saw you leave in a hurry earlier. Was something wrong?"
"Paimon: Hmm… It's hard to explain. How about this, will you help us with an experiment?"
"Vigard: An experiment? A bit random, but tell me, what do I need to do?"
"Paimon: Do you have any wishes?"
"Lumine: Imagine your wish coming true right before your eyes."
"Vigard: Wishes? Does The Sabzeruz Festival have a wishing segment?"
"Paimon: Oh, don't worry about all that."
"Vigard: Ah, alright, alright. Hmm… My current wish, it's a bit embarrassing to say, is just to make Miss Dina happy."
"Paimon: Ah?"
"Vigard: Earlier, I seemed to see that she was in a bad mood, not really talking to anyone, but she wasn't like that before. She's gentle, understanding, and children love her… I even wondered if there was a possibility that she asked me to play the Knight of Flowers because in her eyes, I'm special…"
"Paimon: You… do you like Dina?"
Vigard scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
"Paimon: … … …"
"Vigard: Ah, alright, alright, my wish is 【Miss Dina appears before me, smiling】."
Then Vigard began to make his wish… Just as Paimon and Lumine watched intently, Vigard opened his eyes.
"Vigard: Ah? This is."
Paimon and Lumine turned around, only to see a little girl appear before them.
"Vigard: Isn't this Little Patchy? You can only get one Yalda candy per person, hurry home, hahaha, your tricks don't work at all, never mind, never mind, she doesn't need to come to me, as long as she's happy it's enough… hahaha."
The two left disappointed.
"Paimon: Sigh, as expected, it's not that easy to find…"
Just then, a commotion came from afar.
"Paimon: Eh? Oh right, at this time it's…"
Lumine then quickly rushed over.
"Paimon: Eh? Wait for me!"
The two arrived at the scene.
"Dehya: Hmm? You've come at just the right time, help me with…"
"Lumine: Leave this to me, you take Dina and go."
"Dehya: What are you doing? This is my job, the Humai family won't pay you."
"Lumine: Stop talking nonsense! Go quickly."
"Dehya: This… Alright, alright, why are you so angry? It's not like I don't trust your strength… Be careful."
After Dehya left… it was clear that the group of people had been coaxed to sleep by me.
"Paimon: Lumine… you were completely taking your anger out on them, weren't you?"
"Lumine: No…"
"Paimon: Sigh… You too, and Nahida too, Dina wouldn't want to see you two like this. Eh? I remember Dina went back to get something before going to The Sabzeruz Festival, didn't she? Even a small clue would be helpful, let's go look for it."
"Lumine: Mm, okay."
The two walked to the front of the house. Paimon noticed the window wasn't fully closed and flew in. She came out shortly after, holding a book.
"Paimon: Hmm… There's almost nothing inside, only this book is very noticeable, placed on the table. Should we open it and take a look?"
After the two carefully read the contents of the book.
"Paimon: So she's always kept our matters in mind, even when we were in Port Ormos… But she must have been very busy preparing for The Sabzeruz Festival, and her health was so bad at that time…"
"It seems she originally wanted to give it to us in person at The Sabzeruz Festival as a gift, didn't she?"
"Lumine: Dina…"
Then Lumine ran off again.
"Paimon: Eh? Where are you going now?"
… … … … …
Beside a scenic platform.
"Paimon: That's… Dina's 【puppet】…"
"Lumine: (I just feel like)… Thank you…"
"Paimon: Lumine…"
Lumine walked to the side and sat down.
"Paimon: Are you tired? Looking back, we've really been stuck here for so, so long. Qixuan-jie has been taking care of Dina outside, but we… haven't been able to wake her up."
Lumine's mind began to recall the things she had experienced with Dina.
"Paimon: Hehe… Do you remember that time we were both sitting here, and she mentioned wanting to see Nilou perform the 【Dance of Flowers】, her eyes sparkling… But now…"
Just then… Dina's 【puppet】 spoke.
【There will always be annoying things in life, but I know we live to have no regrets, right?】
"Lumine: !?"
"Paimon: Ah! That sentence just now, wasn't it something the past Dina once said? Could it be…!"
"Lumine: Dina."
"Dina: Hmm? What's wrong? Lumine?"
"Paimon: It seems… it's still that 【puppet】, but what just happened…"
Lumine already had the answer in her heart.
"Lumine: … … Let's go, Paimon."
"Paimon: Ah? Where are we going now?"
【To see… the Dance of Flowers】
The two walked to the Grand Bazaar. The situation there was still the Grand Sage preventing Nilou's Dance of Flowers, but this time… Lumine chose to stand in front of Nilou.
"Lumine: Woman, stand behind me."
"Paimon: … … …"
"Nilou: Ah? (Her face slightly flushed) Lumine… What are you talking about? But you don't have to stick up for us like this. He's the Grand Sage of the Akademiya, it wouldn't be good if you got dragged into this…"
"Azar: You are the Traveler?"
"Paimon: Lumine! What are you trying to do? If you get caught by the Akademiya, won't today be wasted?"
"Azar: … … …"
"Setaria: … … …"
Paimon sensed something was wrong, then she swayed back and forth in front of the two, finally even using her hands, but the two didn't react.
"Paimon: Eh?"
"Lumine: As expected… they are all 【puppets】."
"Paimon: Oh—I see. If it's the Sages' plan, then they would definitely make themselves… So they are just substitutes."
"Nilou: What's going on? What happened to the Grand Sage and them?"
Lumine suddenly looked at the two pots of flowers next to her and began to recall.
【Nilou: Hehe, after all, Padisarah is the symbol of the Grass God, it's just a pity that the true Padisarah has long been extinct with the passing of the Grass God.】
"Nilou: Ah, a vibrant purplish-red. Isn't this the legendary true Padisarah? I didn't even realize it. Could it be that Dina helped find it?"
"Paimon: But didn't you say that this kind of flower had long been extinct with the passing of the Grass God? Could it be…"
"Nilou: Yes, what exactly is going on…"
"Lumine: Nilou, please close your eyes."
"Nilou: Eh?"
"Lumine: Imagine that the Grand Sages are not in front of you."
"Nilou: You're all so strange… Alright, I'll give it a try."
(Imagination!)
A moment later… Nilou opened her eyes and found that the Grand Sage and the others had indeed disappeared.
"Paimon: Disappeared, disappeared! So Nilou was the 【subject】 all along, this is truly an unexpected gain! It turns out the clue was the extinct Padisarah."
"But to end the cycle, the subject still needs to develop self-awareness, right? How can we make Nilou realize that this is…"
At this moment, Nilou suddenly said: "Am I… dreaming?"
"Paimon: Eh!"
"Lumine: Hmm?"
"Nilou: Hehe, as expected? Isn't it that we, who devoutly celebrate The Sabzeruz Festival, received a response from Lesser Lord Kusanali?"
"Paimon: Although you guessed wrong, you weren't completely wrong… The key is, how did you suddenly think of 【dream】? In your understanding, people of Sumeru shouldn't be able to dream, right?"
"Nilou: It's like this, have you heard the story of 【The First Sage】? The story of embarking on a journey to find the Grass God to escape disaster."
"Paimon: I think I have! Dina told it to us when we first arrived in Sumeru City. So that person was The First Sage?"
"Nilou: Yes, but in the story you heard, he indeed hadn't become 【The First Sage】 yet. This story has a continuation… After his piety and wisdom were recognized by the Grass God, the Grass God finally decided to bestow blessings upon him."
"Before The First Sage, various incredible sights appeared, as if all the knowledge of the world was manifested in tangible form before him, making him intoxicated. He didn't know how long it had passed, he had already mastered all the knowledge he could understand. After that, he said to the Grass God: 'I miss my parents, wife, and children. I have been away from home for too long, they must be worried.'"
"Paimon: And then?"
"Nilou: The Grass God smiled, and the next second, the sage found himself lying in bed, seemingly just waking up from a dream. His wife beside him said, 【Are you setting off to find the Grass God today? I wish you a safe journey, my dear】."
"Later, The First Sage resolved many disasters in Sumeru City and founded the Akademiya. It was a happy ending for everyone."
"Paimon: So you really can get anything in a dream…"
"Nilou: Haha, Paimon, don't think about such things. The First Sage was able to gain such a reward because his piety and determination must have reached the Grass God, which is why the Grass God bestowed blessings in the form of a dream."
"Paimon: It's indeed an interesting association… But we also need to wake up quickly."
"Lumine: Then the dream should end very soon."
"Nilou: Is that so? Coincidentally, today's The Sabzeruz Festival is also coming to an end. Since we're in a dream, can the final 【Dance of Flowers】 be even more spectacular?"
"Lumine: Mm, please dance to your heart's content!"
Nilou walked onto the stage, and the dream changed with her thoughts.
【Long awaited, everyone, let me offer the Dance of Flowers to the divine.】
Soon after… the dance concluded… a dazzling light flashed before the two, and Paimon and Lumine returned to reality.
Reality…
"Qixuan: Hmm? Woken up? It seems they've come out."
Lumine and Paimon walked out of the room.
"Paimon: Hmm… My head still feels so heavy."
"Lumine: We finally got out."
"Qixuan: Hi?"
"Paimon: Ah! I'm going to punish you!"
Then Paimon sprawled on Qixuan's face. Qixuan pulled Paimon off.
"Qixuan: Alright, alright, how about I treat Paimon to a big meal next time?"
"Paimon: Then, then two meals."
"Qixuan: Alright, alright."
"Lumine: … … Beyond saving. Oh, by the way, how is Dina?"
"Qixuan: Don't worry, she woke up a while ago, and her body is fine. Let's go find her."
"Paimon: Okay!"
The group left the house and then met Katheryne on the way, but… why was that voice Nahida's?
"Paimon: Hmm?!"
Katheryne nodded at Qixuan.
"Katheryne (Nahida): Well done, Lumine, Paimon, and… Dina, thank you for organizing The Sabzeruz Festival for me."
"Paimon: Eh? Dina is here too?"
"Dina: May I ask who you are…?"
"Paimon: It's good that Dina is alright, phew…"
"Dina: Eh! Little Paimon, Lumine, listen to me, I just had a dream, I dreamed that Nilou was performing the 【Dance of Flowers】!"
"Lumine: Yes, us too."
"Paimon: Nahida, it really is you! I knew that Miss Katheryne I saw at The Sabzeruz Festival venue back then was a bit strange, but why is Dina lying down again now?"
"Katheryne (Nahida): That's a long story, it's better not to disturb Dina's rest here. She just woke up and is about to go out."
"Let's talk somewhere else, how about near… that bench Lumine is 【particularly fond of】?"
"Qixuan: Pfft… What kind of strange title is that?"
Lumine's face turned red at a visible speed.
"Paimon: A Damselette's blush surpasses all…"
Lumine grabbed Paimon in her hand and rubbed her.
"Katheryne (Nahida): Haha…"
… … … … … …
"Paimon: I'm relieved to see Dina is alright."
"Nahida: Yes, after we parted on the last day of The Sabzeruz Festival, I went outside the city and saw the sight Lumine described. Among countless dreams, I found a dream that was gradually thinning, which confirmed my conjecture. When Dina could no longer bear Akasha's harvesting of dreams, she would temporarily disperse, thereby escaping Akasha's control, and Qixuan also helped me disperse the surrounding 【Akasha】. It's a good thing you broke the cycle in time."
"Qixuan: It seems Dehya doesn't have to be sad about this."
"Paimon: Hmm? We would be sad too, alright! But speaking of which, we made it in the end!"
"Lumine: Thank you, Qixuan-jie."
"Qixuan: We're partners, after all."
"Nahida: Hmm? Why are you all smiling with relief? I thought you should be crying tears of gratitude right now… Hmm, I still need to observe more."
"Paimon: Does Nahida really want us to cry?"
"Nahida: Alright, besides that, Lumine, do you have any other questions for me? I will give you all my answers as a reward."
"Lumine: Then…"
Lumine asked about her dream and what 【Stone World, Forget Me】 meant. Nahida said it might be the consciousness left by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata before she passed away, and she couldn't unravel anything deeper.
"Nahida: Moreover, Irminsul is 【sick】. Although I haven't felt any abnormality from Irminsul recently, I'm still worried."
"Paimon: Hmm… My head is spinning."
Lumine then used this opportunity to ask many questions, and then Lumine became somewhat angry.
"Paimon: What! Those Sages actually locked you up!"
"Lumine: And then Qixuan-jie just stole you out?"
"Qixuan: How can you call it stealing? That's rescuing!"
"Nahida: At that time, I was indeed young and powerless, so the Sages locked me in the Sanctuary of Surasthana under the name of 【protection】, and almost never bothered with me again. I know very well how much they wished to find Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, not me…"
"Paimon: Ugh!!! I'm still so angry, how dare they? Nahida, why don't you teach them a lesson?"
"Nahida: From a certain perspective, they weren't wrong. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was omniscient and omnipotent. Even after her passing, Akasha still bestowed power upon this nation. I am far from worthy of the title of God of wisdom, and the Akademiya is more skilled in governing the nation. My existence doesn't have that much significance."
"Qixuan: (Are you perhaps going to learn from those predecessors?)"
"Lumine: In my eyes, you are already an excellent deity."
"Paimon: Yes, yes, Nahida already has many followers. Look at The Sabzeruz Festival that day, everyone who participated truly liked you."
"Nahida: Thank you for saying that, but actually, I, who can connect my consciousness to Akasha, don't really need physical freedom."
"Finding a way to save Irminsul is what I should do as a qualified god."
After another casual chat, Nahida bid farewell to everyone and then left Katheryne's body.
"Katheryne: Hmm, Traveler? Paimon? Miss Qixuan? Why am I here? Do you have any idea?"
"Paimon: Uh… Maybe sleepwalking? You know, you can't wake up a sleepwalker, so we just… just happened to be passing by and waited here for you to wake up."
"Qixuan: Cough cough… That's right."
"Katheryne: Is that so… Hmm… I should also look for maintenance personnel when I have time. Ah, I'm fine, I'll go back in a bit, thank you all."
"Lumine: Okay."
"Paimon: It's finally over! I'm so hungry, Qixuan-jie, didn't you say you'd treat me to a big meal? Let's go now!"
"Qixuan: Okay, then let's go to a local specialty restaurant."
"Paimon: Yay!"
"Lumine: Sigh… How do I even manage to support this foodie?"
… … … …
