The morning of Jnagarbha Day began with a deceptive calm. The sun climbed the sky, bathing Sumeru City in golden light, but beneath the surface, tension hummed like a taut wire.
Ren and Ningguang walked through the Akademiya atrium, blending in with the scholars hurrying to their lectures. They moved with purpose, their destination the upper lifts. Ren carried his satchel, heavy with his elemental devices, while Ningguang walked with the serene confidence of a woman who owned the ground she stepped on.
As the great clock struck the hour, a subtle vibration ran through the floor. Shouts echoed from the lower levels. The Akasha terminals on the heads of the passing students flashed red, then green, then red again. Confusion rippled through the crowd.
"The disturbance has begun," Ningguang murmured, her eyes scanning the exits.
Sure enough, the Matra guards stationed at the atrium doors suddenly mobilized, receiving urgent orders through their terminals. They streamed out, heading towards the city gates, leaving the path to the upper levels remarkably clear.
"Now," Ren said.
They moved swiftly, taking the winding path that ascended around the spine of the Divine Tree. The air grew thinner, cleaner, as they rose above the city.
When the reach the top, they find themselves on the platform leading to the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Lumine was already there, her sword drawn, her face set in a grim line.
"You made it," she said, relief flickering in her eyes.
"The guards are distracted," Ren confirmed. "The path is clear."
They enter the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Lumine pointed towards a massive, ornate door at the far end of the corridor. "That leads to the god creation chamber. The Balladeer is in there. I'm going in."
She turned to them. "Nahida… is that way." She pointed to the central, glowing dome. "The barrier should be weaker now that the Akasha is compromised."
"We'll get her out," Ren promised. "But Lumine… wait."
He grabbed her arm gently. "If Dottore is in there… don't fight him. Please. He's too strong. Just run."
Lumine shook her head. "He's gone, Ren. We confirmed it. He left for Snezhnaya yesterday. We saw his boat leave the harbor."
Ren bit his lip. He couldn't explain the segments. He couldn't explain that the Doctor was a legion. "Just… be careful. He's tricky. He might have left a trap. Or a… part of himself."
Lumine looked at him, seeing the genuine fear in his eyes. She squeezed his hand. "I'll be careful. I promise."
She turned and sprinted towards the chamber of the false god, Paimon trailing behind her.
Ren watched her go, a knot of worry tightening in his stomach. Then he turned to Ningguang. "Let's go."
They approached the center of the Sanctuary. The air here was thick with Dendro energy, pulsing with the heartbeat of the Irminsul. In the center of the room, suspended in a sphere of green light, was a small, birdcage-like structure.
Inside, floating in a meditative trance, was Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Ren walked up to the barrier. He placed his hand on the shimmering field. He closed his eyes, focusing on the God behind the barrier.
Nahida, he thought, projecting his will. We're here.
The barrier flickered. It shuddered, like a glass pane hit by a stone.
Inside the cage, Nahida's eyes fluttered.
With a sound like shattering chimes, the green light dissolved. The cage simply evaporated into motes of Dendro energy.
Nahida drifted down, her small feet touching the cool stone floor. She stumbled slightly, unused to the sensation of gravity, of physical contact.
She opened her eyes. They were wide, filled with wonder and a million years of loneliness ending in a single moment. She looked at her hands, then at the floor beneath her feet. She wiggled her toes.
"So," she whispered, her voice soft and filled with awe. "This is how it feels… to walk with my own two legs."
She looked up and saw Ren. A brilliant, tearful smile broke across her face.
"Ren," she said. "You came."
"I told you," Ren smiled back, extending a hand. "Friends help each other."
She took his hand. Her skin was warm, real. She wasn't a hologram or a consciousness in a terminal. She was a person. A god, finally free.
"Thank you," she breathed.
Ningguang stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Lesser Lord Kusanali. It is an honor. We must move quickly. The situation is volatile."
"Yes," Nahida said, her expression sharpening with divine clarity. "The Balladeer. He is nearly complete. We must stop him."
She looked at Ren. "Lumine is fighting him?"
"Yes," Ren said. "But she might need help."
Nahida nodded. "Yes, we can help her, but before that, we have something urgent to deal with."