When Yilan saw himself in the simulator and discovered that he was going to be adopted by the Grand Sage Azar, his expression suddenly changed.
To be honest, if he were to rank the people he most wanted to kill in Genshin Impact, the Grand Sage of the Akademiya would definitely be number one.
There are many despicable villains in Genshin Impact—some are foolish, and some are evil. But Azar was uniquely both.
What made him truly absurd was that he colluded with the Fatui in an attempt to create a new God of Wisdom to grant him divine insight, while still thinking himself a visionary and a genius.
But let's break this down: he was using the Electro Archon's Gnosis. Even if that allowed him to connect to Irminsul, why would that grant him the wisdom of the late Greater Lord Rukkhadevata? Why would the new god even care about him, let alone bestow wisdom?
As a scholar, relying on another being to bestow wisdom is the height of idiocy.
Worse still, while enjoying the fruits of the old god's legacy—like the Void Terminal system developed under the Greater Lord's guidance—he imprisoned and mistreated Lesser Lord Kusanali, the clear successor and continuation of Rukkhadevata's will.
Yilan thought that if any member of the Akademiya still had a shred of conscience, they would never have imprisoned Nahida once they realized she couldn't deliver the so-called forbidden knowledge they were chasing. Instead, they should have let her grow freely. Perhaps then, she could have become a wise and virtuous god like her predecessor.
Even if one insisted on creating a new god, there was no reason to abuse Nahida in the process.
For a brief moment, Yilan truly wanted to enter the somatosensory mode and kill Azar with his own hands.
But then he looked at the tiny five-year-old body he inhabited in the simulator—and had to let it go.
Sure, he could have refused Azar's adoption through somatosensory control. But after some thought, he realized that being adopted might offer better access to learning resources—something that could benefit his growth in this simulated world.
However, he soon realized that he had underestimated just how revolting Azar truly was.
[Age 6]
Since being adopted by Azar, your living conditions have improved drastically. Azar treats you well, meeting all your material needs. You wear expensive silk clothing and eat only the most nutritious meals. He also uses his authority to grant you access to more knowledge through the Void Terminal.
But Azar is only a regular scholar for now, and his access is still limited.
While he grants you nearly everything you ask for, he sets two conditions:
You must continue to learn and write original, innovative academic papers, like the one you produced before.
You are not allowed to leave the house without permission, nor are you allowed to talk to outsiders.
[Age 7]
Although you can't play with children your age, you don't feel truly lonely—because the endless sea of knowledge keeps you company.
You absorb knowledge rapidly, and by integrating it with concepts from your memories of another world, you produce numerous research papers and inventions, which you hand over to your adoptive father, Azar.
As a child, you don't fully understand their value. You only notice that Azar's permissions within the Void Terminal system have been increasing. You're now able to access more and more content.
[Age 8]
Despite the knowledge and the maids around you, loneliness starts creeping in. You ask Azar if you can go out for a walk.
After some hesitation, Azar agrees—but you're still not allowed to interact with others. Three guards accompany you at all times.
This is your first outing in years. As you walk through Sumeru City, your eyes are full of wonder. You end up at the Grand Bazaar and stop at the Zubayr Theater, where you see a red-haired girl stepping onto the stage.
Her movements are still a bit awkward, but her dance radiates freedom and vitality—like a young eagle in flight. For someone like you, who's spent life confined within walls, her free-spirited energy feels almost divine.
You learn that her name is Nilou.
You try to approach her—but are stopped by the guards.
Disappointed, you return home. That night, half-asleep, you hear a voice in your mind.
It's soft and warm, like sunlight. It speaks gently to you, tells you stories you've never heard, and eases your loneliness.
You tell Azar about it the next day. He dismisses it as a dream.
(Though Sumeru is supposed to be dreamless, in the canon story, when Dori experienced a similar phenomenon, her family also thought she was simply dreaming.)
[Age 9]
You begin to see Nilou as your angel of light.
You visit the Zubayr Theater every day, watching her perform from afar. Though you can't speak to her, her presence fills your heart.
And each night, that gentle voice returns, soothing you in your dreams.
[Age 10]
As you mature, you realize your inventions and writings are incredibly valuable. But Azar never mentions them—and his influence continues to grow.
You begin to suspect he's using your work to advance his career.
Still, you're kind-hearted and he's raised you. So instead of retaliating, you simply stop putting in as much effort.
Then, during one of your visits to the Zubayr Theater, you see Nilou crying. She tells her companions the Akademiya wants to demolish the theater.
You rush home and beg Azar to intervene.
After a moment of hesitation, he agrees—on the condition that you provide another paper or invention.
You struggle inside, but your desire to see Nilou smile outweighs your hesitation.
"…Why does this feel more and more wrong?"
Azar's depravity exceeded your expectations. It was obvious he had used your work to gain power, and now he demanded more in exchange for mercy.
Yilan thought back to a side story from the Aranara woodcarving event—where a father took credit for his children's accomplishments. That had seemed shameful but almost understandable.
But Azar was different. He had no intention of stopping.
Yilan could sense the danger. Even though his simulated self was kind by nature, "the kindest people become the scariest when angered."
If this kept going, Yilan feared this version of himself might truly fall into darkness.
The only unknown factor was the mysterious voice—likely Nahida. He wasn't sure what she might do.
[Thanks to your efforts, the Zubayr Theater is spared from demolition.]
You want to tell Nilou the good news. You want her to know it was you who saved her stage. You long to see her smile at you—to have her admire you.
But the guards stop you once again. From a distance, you can only watch as she thanks the Akademiya scholar who formally delivered the decree.
…And for the first time, something shifts in your heart.
That innocent smile she shows the messenger was meant for you—but someone else received it. A strange, negative emotion begins to stir inside you.
That night, half-asleep, the familiar voice returns. She speaks with warmth, listens patiently to your troubles, and gently soothes your heart.
The dark emotion fades for now—but a black seed has been planted.
[Age 11]
Your intelligence is now far beyond even ordinary sages. Azar severely limits your physical freedom, but he grants you nearly unrestricted access to the Void Terminal—including data normally forbidden to the public.
One day, while exploring hidden archives, you stumble upon a deeply encrypted dataset, protected by the highest-level permissions. Its code name: "Exile."
"Exile? Isn't that the Doctor's designation in Sumeru?"
You frown.
As someone with a deep thirst for knowledge, your interest is piqued. The Doctor—Il Dottore—was a heinous man, but his intelligence was undeniable. His capabilities were far beyond those of most Akademiya scholars.
In Yilan's view, knowledge itself is neutral. It is neither good nor evil—it's how it is used that defines its morality.
So he doesn't object to studying the Doctor's archived research.
And besides, whatever is stored in the Void Terminal under "Exile" likely originates from the Doctor's time before he joined the Fatui—while he was still a member of the Akademiya. Back then, he was arrogant and rebellious, but not yet monstrous.
Even so, the fact that his research was hidden under such deep encryption proved its value.
[Age 12]
You begin studying the forbidden knowledge left behind by the Exile. At the same time, a creeping sense of insecurity begins to take root in you.
You decide to prepare.
You start learning alchemy, mechanics, and defense formations—crafting tools and weapons powered by Void technology. Even though your body remains that of a child, your creations are powerful enough to overwhelm most Vision holders.
Still, every day, you continue to visit the Zubayr Theater.
Nilou's dance becomes your sanctuary—a spring that cleanses your weary soul.
[Age 13]
The Zubayr Theater encounters one difficulty after another. Though you suspect Azar is orchestrating these troubles to manipulate you, you have no proof.
Each time, you silently intervene—using your knowledge to help Nilou behind the scenes. But every favor from Azar costs you something. A promise. A condition. A future sacrifice.
You consider confronting him—but deep down, you're still just a lonely orphan craving familial affection.
You think to yourself:
"Maybe… once he becomes Grand Sage, things will change. Maybe he'll stop using me. Maybe we can be a real family. Then, as the son of the Grand Sage, marrying Nilou will be simple."
It's a beautiful fantasy—and you cling to it.
[Age 14]
Azar becomes Grand Sage.
By now, you've exhausted most of the otherworldly knowledge stored in your mind. Using this as an excuse, you stop producing new inventions for him.
You expect that with his ambitions fulfilled, Azar will finally let you go.
But you've underestimated human greed.
[Age 15]
Lately, Azar keeps his distance. But you've already deployed Void-powered surveillance devices throughout his villa—disguised birds, rats, and insects connected to custom mini-terminals.
Today, your spies deliver an alert.
Azar has received a special visitor: a man in black from Snezhnaya. A Fatui agent.
They're discussing plans to create a new god for Sumeru.
When the Fatui asks how such a god could be made without the wisdom of the divine, Azar replies:
"I have an adopted son—his knowledge far surpasses any scholar in the Akademiya. Perhaps we can extract what's in his mind and use it to forge divinity itself."
And in that instant, something inside you snaps.