Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Liyue
After the video ended, silence filled the hall once again.
But unlike before—
This time the silence was not anger.
It was shock and sorrow.
Shock at the sacrifice of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Among those present, the expressions of Venti and Zhongli were the most complicated.
After all—
Rukkhadevata had once been their fellow Archon.
Zhongli sighed softly.
"To be forgotten by the world…"
"I never expected such an ending for her."
He tried to continue but ultimately fell silent.
Venti also looked unusually serious.
"It's surprising… yet understandable."
"She was the avatar of the World Tree."
"But being forgotten…"
"The price is far too heavy."
He lowered his gaze.
Death was frightening.
But something even worse existed—
Being forgotten.
The Meaning of a Witness
Venti glanced at Zhongli.
"Witnesses exist to witness. Recorders exist to remember."
"You told that to the Traveler because of this, didn't you?"
Zhongli shook his head.
"No."
"Even the hardest stone cannot withstand the erosion of time."
"I said those words because I feared memory itself would fade."
"The Traveler is different from us."
"She is not bound to this world."
"But I never expected that…"
"In the future it would become so important."
Without the Traveler—
No one in the world would remember Rukkhadevata.
Venti sighed softly.
"Yes."
"Thankfully there's still the Traveler."
Then he suddenly laughed again.
"Though now we also have that screen recording everything."
Zhongli nodded.
"That is fortunate indeed."
They raised their cups.
"Drink."
"Drink."
Hu Tao's Fear
Zhongli then noticed someone staring blankly.
Hu Tao.
She had been silent ever since the story began.
"Director?"
"Are you alright?"
Hu Tao slowly came back to her senses.
"I'm fine…"
She looked at the screen.
"I've always believed death is part of nature."
"But now…"
"I suddenly feel afraid."
Zhongli asked quietly.
"Afraid of death?"
Hu Tao shook her head.
"No."
"I'm afraid of being forgotten after death."
No one wants to become someone forgotten.
Zhongli thought for a moment.
"Then leave something behind."
"Even if Irminsul changes memory…"
"That screen is outside its influence."
"You can record things."
Venti clapped happily.
"That's right!"
"You could even turn it into a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor service."
"Record people so their families can remember them forever."
Hu Tao's eyes lit up instantly.
That was genius.
Memories preserved forever.
And new business for the funeral parlor.
She jumped up excitedly.
"Stay here you two!"
"I'll go prepare more food and wine!"
Zhongli frowned slightly.
"…Why does that sound strange?"
Venti waved him off.
"Don't worry about it."
"Drink!"
Inazuma — Grand Narukami Shrine
Meanwhile in Inazuma.
Hanachirusato watched the scene quietly.
"For the sake of her people…"
"She allowed herself to be erased from history."
"She truly was a gentle and great god."
Her story felt strangely familiar.
Just like herself—
Existing only to complete a mission.
Then disappearing.
But Hanachirusato smiled softly.
"At least…"
"Some people still remember me."
"But Rukkhadevata…"
"Only the Traveler remembers her."
Beside her, Yae Miko nodded.
"Yes."
"She might be the most gentle god we've seen so far."
Then she suddenly looked at someone.
"Well, at least Lady Saiguu wasn't forgotten."
Kitsune Saiguu laughed mischievously.
"If I had been forgotten…"
"Little Miko would cry all day in the shrine."
Miko rolled her eyes.
"Please."
"My life would be better."
"At least no one would steal my tofu."
Ei's Thoughts
Somewhere in Inazuma—
Raiden Ei paused while searching for Scaramouche.
"To be forgotten…"
She thought about her sister.
Raiden Makoto.
Their fates felt strangely similar.
She shook her head.
"Fortunately…"
"Makoto was not forgotten."
The thought of Nahida crying without remembering why felt unbearable.
So she continued her search.
Fontaine
Inside the Palais Mermonia.
Neuvillette spoke quietly.
"She was an enemy of the primordial dragons."
"But still…"
"I respect her devotion to her people."
Beside him, Furina nodded.
"To wait five hundred years…"
"Just to disappear."
"That kind of resolve…"
"Very few could achieve it."
Then she looked worried.
"I wonder how Nahida is handling this…"
Sumeru — Sanctuary of Surasthana
Meanwhile—
Nahida had collapsed.
"No…"
"This can't be true…"
"The people of Sumeru love you…"
"I…"
"How could we forget you?"
Tears streamed down her face.
Watching herself erase Rukkhadevata—
It felt as if she had truly experienced it.
The pain was overwhelming.
She knelt on the floor, crying.
Then suddenly—
Two arms wrapped around her.
It was Lumine.
"I'm here."
"This happened in the future."
"But that future hasn't happened yet."
"There's still a chance to change it."
Paimon quickly added.
"Exactly!"
"There are still rewards from the screen!"
"Maybe there's another way!"
Nahida froze.
Right.
That was the future.
Not the present.
If the future could change—
Then maybe…
Rukkhadevata didn't have to disappear.
She wiped her tears.
"You're right."
"Thank you, Lumine."
"My first sage."
Lumine made a fake sad face.
"First sage?"
"I only had the title for five minutes before it disappeared."
Nahida blushed slightly.
She raised her hand solemnly.
"I swear in the name of the Dendro Archon."
"As long as I exist—"
"Lumine will forever be my First Sage."
Lumine suddenly became serious.
She knelt on one knee.
"I, Lumine, accept."
"No matter the enemy."
"No matter the future."
"I will fight for Nahida."
"Forever."
Nahida's eyes filled with tears again.
"Lumine…"
"...Nahida."
Paimon stared at them.
"…What is happening?"
She coughed loudly.
"Ahem!"
Both of them snapped back to reality instantly.
The atmosphere relaxed again.
Nahida then whispered softly.
"Lumine."
"Thank you."
"For remembering Rukkhadevata."
"Without you…"
"She truly would have been forgotten forever."
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