Let us rewind time a bit, back to the moment when Lucian had just conceded defeat.
Alhaitham examined the Portable Waypoint in his hand: "I can place this in my home."
"However, I have a condition."
"What condition?" Lucian asked. He wasn't familiar with Alhaitham, nor did they share any personal favors, so it was natural for the other to make demands.
"Later, you must come to Sumeru," Alhaitham stated.
Lucian was puzzled, unable to comprehend Alhaitham's motive. Could it be that he had foreseen an incident happening in Sumeru and wanted Lucian to help? Are you a prophet too?
And given Alhaitham's personality… huh? Actually, considering Alhaitham's personality, he really might do something like this. Though he always carries an air of "arrogance," he isn't arrogant at all. If there's a means to solve a problem more efficiently and conveniently, he'll use it. If someone else is better suited for a task, he'll gladly entrust it to them. He isn't the type to be overly confident and insist on handling everything himself.
"Alright, I agree," Lucian nodded.
Only then did Alhaitham put away the Portable Waypoint, then subtly glance at Venti—or more precisely, at the Akasha Terminal on his ear. For Sumerians, the Akasha Terminal becomes useless once they leave Sumeru. Yet Venti, the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt, was still wearing one here. There must be some secret behind it.
The only ones who could make special modifications to the Akasha Terminal are likely Lesser Lord Kusanali and the late Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. But if the Dendro Archon wanted to come, why not appear in person? Unless… she couldn't?
Alhaitham decided to investigate this matter thoroughly upon his return.
Venti also noticed Alhaitham's gaze and smiled without a word. "Finally noticed, huh~" Sumeru's affairs should indeed be resolved by Sumeru's own people.
Zhongli, standing nearby, silently observed all this and gave a slight nod.
Meanwhile, Nahida within the Akasha Terminal also noticed Alhaitham's gaze and instantly understood Venti's little scheme. "Archon Barbatos, Senior—"
Before she could finish, Venti interrupted, "What? Want some wine?"
Nahida recalled how Venti had asked a similar question during the Osial incident and chuckled. "Yes." Then, through the Akasha, she looked at Lucian. She really wanted to chat with this prophet. After all, she truly loved the stories he wrote—they made her feel as though she had experienced many things and met many friends.
"Prophet·Lucian." A woman's voice caught Lucian's attention—it was Eula.
"Knights of Favonius, Spindrift Knight, Eula Lawrence, at your service." Eula performed an elegant bow. Though she had jokingly mentioned holding a grudge while reading in Mondstadt, deep down, she was grateful to Lucian.
Tighnari blinked. Look at how the Knights of Favonius introduce themselves. And then look at how our own General Mahamatra introduces himself—who calls themselves the 'King of Jokes'?
The "King of Jokes" himself remained oblivious to Tighnari's thoughts as his match reached its conclusion.
"Th-Thank you…" Eula said awkwardly, clearly unaccustomed to speaking so bluntly without her usual tsundere tone. "Anyway, I'll remember this grudge." Eula believed Lucian, who understood her well, would grasp her meaning.
Tighnari sighed silently. Every family has its own troubles.
"Eula, hello." Lucian was naturally happy to meet her and understood her "tsundere" nature. Admittedly, Eula's figure was exceptional… Among the people Lucian knew previously, Shenhe might have had the best proportions, but after meeting Eula, it was hard to say.
Glancing at Eula, Shenhe, and Clorinde, then at Furina, Hu Tao, and Lumine—whose child is this?
Lucian and Eula didn't talk for long, as it was soon her turn to compete.
Lucian turned his gaze to Venti. "Doctor Venti, present the item."
Venti smiled wryly. What kind of weird nickname is 'Doctor Venti'? "As expected, nothing escapes you. Here." Venti handed the Akasha Terminal to Lucian.
Lucian was speechless. You're the Anemo Archon, yet you're running around with an Akasha Terminal—how could I not notice? And what do you mean 'nothing escapes me'? You clearly wanted me to see it!
Amused, Lucian teased, "Not at all. There are plenty of things I don't know. For example, I don't have X-ray vision, so I don't know what kind of underwear people are wearing."
Venti broke into a cold sweat. How do you know that?! How did you know I once wondered if you knew the answer to that question?!
"Mr. Lucian, hello. I also really enjoy the jokes you tell," Nahida said.
Unlike Cyno, Lucian was fully aware that he was telling dad jokes—he did it purely on purpose. Admittedly, someone like Cyno, who genuinely believed his jokes were funny while delivering them dead seriously, was its own kind of comedic talent.
Lucian couldn't help but reflect that Nahida's sense of humor was… unique.
"Nahida, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure our official meeting won't be too far off," Lucian said. He wasn't in a hurry to seek her out—why? Because she was too kind. She was so gentle that even after being imprisoned for so long, she never once considered punishing the sages, like an overly doting "mother."
She needed the incidents with Scaramouche and the sages to truly experience anger. It wasn't that Nahida couldn't understand the situation—she just couldn't bring herself to punish her own people until the sages crossed the line.
"I look forward to that day. When the time comes, I hope to hear more of your stories," Nahida said, unsurprised that Lucian knew her name. Then, in an adorable afterthought, she added, "Oh, and I'm an adult, so I can drink alcohol."
"Huh? Why mention drinking all of a sudden?" Lucian was confused.
Venti tiptoed away quietly.
"Eh? Doesn't Mr. Lucian enjoy drinking?" Nahida asked, puzzled.
Lucian searched for Venti, but the green-clad figure was long gone. Not only had he fled, but he'd also dragged another old man (Zhongli) away with him—who knew what they were up to?
Dammit, not only do I have to stop Hu Tao from spreading weird ideas, but I also have to prevent Venti from 'spreading rumors'!
By the time the matches concluded, Venti had returned and immediately teased Lucian, trying to make him forget what had happened earlier. "Who would've thought? The renowned prophet actually lost to a little girl," Venti said with a bright smile.
Anyone unaware might think time had reset, as if none of the subsequent events had occurred.
"How dare you!" Lucian retorted loudly. "What 'little girl'? She's the champion! No one else even faced her—only I 'fought' her. Technically, that makes me the runner-up."
Hu Tao laughed. That's our Lucian for you—sometimes his leaps in logic are no less wild than mine. No wonder we get along so well.
"Lucian really has no shame," Paimon remarked bluntly.
Lucian shot her a glance, and Paimon immediately hid behind Zhongli, warning, "What?! There are people here—I'll scream if you try anything!"
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice·Nahida: About Lucian·First Meeting
"There are no records of him in Irminsul. Almost everything I know about him comes from Archon Barbatos. Now, it seems… was I deceived?"