While Inazuma cut down the Abyss's claws, two events that would shape the future unfolded in Sumeru.
First, Traveler Aether, searching for his sister, unwittingly helped the Aranara clear a Dead Domain, leaving a deep impression on them.
"See ya, Aranara," Aether waved to the empty forest behind him.
"No luck finding your sister, huh?" Dainsleif said.
"Can't be helped," Aether sighed, clutching his head. "Sis, where are you?"
"Where to next?" Dainsleif asked.
"I'm thinking Inazuma," Aether said. "It's far from the mainland, full of weird youkai with strange powers. Maybe I'll find a lead on her there."
"Inazuma? I'm sitting this one out," Dainsleif replied. "They haven't welcomed Khaenri'ahns like me in a century—especially not former ruling-class types."
"Got it. Catch you later, Dain," Aether said.
"Later, Traveler," Dainsleif nodded. Their year-plus journey had pulled him out of his haze, and now he was heading back to where he was needed to fight.
The second event: the Akademiya expelled a genius.
His name was Dottore.
"Dottore, your theories are too twisted. The Akademiya's sages have banned your research," a voice declared.
"No more funding will be allocated to your work."
"Furthermore, Dottore, your illegal human experiments—though conducted on yourself—violate Akademiya rules. You're hereby expelled."
"Lastly, your mentor asked me to tell you: you've disappointed him deeply."
Just days ago, Dottore was a renowned scholar. Now, he was a pariah, adrift and restless.
But genius scholars are stubborn, and Dottore was no exception.
"Hmph, my theories are flawless. The Akademiya's just a bunch of mediocrities," young Dottore said, brushing dirt off his coat, though his spirit sagged.
He knew the Akademiya's research environment was top-notch.
Assistants handled trivial tasks, and leading a major project came with skilled lackeys.
Even he'd started as one of those lab grunts.
After venting, Dottore fretted over funding.
His research data? No issue—all in his head, ready to be recreated.
"Now's the time to find a sponsor. But who? Someone with funds and knowledge. That's the hard part," Dottore muttered, pacing the street.
A group of students speaking Inazuman approached.
"Senior Dottore?" they asked.
"Who're you?" Dottore eyed the nobodies, clueless about when he'd met them.
"We're Amurta students from the Vitalist faction. Your lecture three months ago was mind-blowing," they said, Inazuman state-sponsored students.
"Too bad the Akademiya doesn't get my theories," Dottore said glumly.
The students laughed awkwardly and left, wary of criticizing Akademiya policy.
But they sparked an idea in Dottore, reminding him of a wandering sage—Zexi, the Distant Wisdom.
"Maybe I can join him. Not being human, he won't have that weird human empathy nonsense and call my work heretical," Dottore mused.
"Hmm, who's that? A woman with witch potential? Nah, not my problem. Gotta figure out how to fund the trip to Inazuma."
…
"You're a Traveler from another world? An adventurer? Haha, that's wild. Hop aboard!" an Inazuman sailor welcomed Aether warmly.
"These days, ever since the great adventurer Alice stayed in Inazuma, we've seen tons of adventurers heading there," the captain said.
"Miss Alice solved a huge problem for us, so the Shogunate's decided to charge adventurers only a quarter of the usual Mora fare," he added, referring to Shogunate-run ships.
It was a gesture to butter up Alice, feeding her ego nicely.
"Oh, you're Dottore, the scholar expelled from the Akademiya?" a sailor asked.
"Former full scholar, confirmed not expelled for lack of talent. You qualify for Inazuma's talent relocation treaty."
"Here's your proof. Show it to any Shogunate office for proper treatment. Hope you enjoy Inazuma."
Shogunate ships were busy, handling cargo, ferrying adventurers, and recruiting talent.
Fate, ever capricious, put two lucky youths on the same ship. The otherworldly Traveler helped out on deck, while the doctor holed up in his cabin, tinkering with experiments.
They never crossed paths.
…
"Welcome to Inazuma," a sailor said, dropping Aether and Dottore off at Ritou before leaving.
"This is Inazuma? Looks totally different from other nations," Aether said, taking in the scenery. Pretty nice.
He thought about greeting the doctor from the ship, but Dottore ignored him, stalking off.
"Weird guy," the Traveler muttered. "Whatever. First priority: fill my stomach."
"Inazuman food, here I come!"
Dottore didn't speak Inazuman, but that was no issue. Many in Ritou spoke Sumeru's tongue, and plenty of Sumerians lived there.
He felt at ease and quickly found the Kanjou Commission, presenting his relocation proof.