With the corruption of the Sages purged and Lesser Lord Kusanali finally holding the reins of her own nation, the bureaucratic machinery of the Akademiya underwent a miraculous transformation. What had once been a grinding, hostile maze of red tape became a streamlined highway of efficiency.
The patents for the heater, the refrigerator, and the Elemental Conduits were processed, verified, and stamped with the official seal of the Akademiya in record time. The Sages of Ksharewar and Spantamad, freed from Azar's toxic influence and eager to please their Archon (and avoid the Tianquan's icy glare), pushed the paperwork through with zealous speed. Ren was now the legal, internationally recognized owner of the technology that was reshaping Teyvat.
When the clerk tentatively asked about the hover vehicle applications, however, Ren paused. He held up a hand.
"Hold on those," he said. "Just for a little while."
It wasn't a matter of engineering doubt. It was a matter of internal calibration. Ever since the incident in the dreamscape of Irminsul—since the touch of the God of Time—Ren had felt… different.
The world seemed louder, not in volume, but in information. When he walked through the gardens, he didn't just see a flower; the moment his focus landed on a Padisarah, a name and a set of properties would whisper into his mind, unbidden. Padisarah. Used in perfumes and spices. Requires humidity. Different from the older version of Padisarah in color and texture variation. It was as if the world was constantly offering him footnotes.
But it was in the quiet intimacy of the alumni house that the true nature of this change revealed itself.
It was evening. Lisa was out sharing a farewell drink with Cyno and Tighnari. Ren sat on the floor of the living room, his precious photo album spread out before him. He was carefully arranging the new photos from Sumeru—a group shot at the Grand Bazaar, the candid of Nilou smiling, the picture of Nahida on her swing.
Ningguang was seated in her usual armchair, reviewing a stack of trade agreements, a cup of tea steaming beside her. The room was silent, save for the rustle of paper.
Suddenly, a voice spoke. Clear, distinct, and unmistakably Ningguang's.
"That structure of the Palace of Alcazarzaray is exquisite. Perhaps I should inquire about purchasing it. It would make a suitable vacation home for Ren. The air here is good for him."
Ren didn't look up from the photo he was currently sticking. "It's nice," he replied casually, "but Dori would probably charge you triple the market price. And besides, I like our house in Liyue better."
The rustling of paper stopped abruptly.
Ren glued the photo down. "Plus, it's a bit far from the city. Commuting would be a pain without a hovercar."
Silence stretched. A heavy, confused silence.
Ren looked up. Ningguang was staring at him, her tea cup halfway to her lips, her expression one of rare, unmasked bewilderment.
"Ren," she said slowly. "I did not say anything."
Ren blinked. "What? Yes, you did. You said you wanted to buy the Palace of Alcazarzaray."
Ningguang lowered her cup. "I thought it," she corrected, her voice low. "I was looking at the trade report on Dori's assets, and the thought crossed my mind. I did not vocalize it."
Ren froze. He looked at her, then back at the photo album. He focused on her again, concentrating.
"Did he just… hear my thoughts? Is that even possible?"
The voice was there again. Clear as a bell inside his head. Ningguang's lips hadn't moved.
Ren's eyes went wide. "I… I can hear you," he whispered. "In my head."
Ningguang stood up, her composure recovering instantly into scientific curiosity. "Fascinating. Is it constant?"
"No," Ren said, shaking his head. "Only when I… looked at you. Or when I focused on you."
"Try to speak back," Ningguang commanded. "Without words."
Ren closed his eyes. He pictured Ningguang in his mind. He projected a thought, pushing it towards her like he pushed elemental energy.
Can you hear this, Lady Ningguang?
Ningguang gasped softly. Her eyes widened. "Yes. Clear as crystal."
They spent the next hour testing the limits. Ren went into the bedroom, closing the door. He focused on Ningguang in the other room. They could converse perfectly. But if he let his mind drift, if he stopped focusing on her specific mental signature, the connection vanished. It wasn't a flood of noise; it was a directed channel.
"Telepathy," Ningguang mused when he returned to the living room. "And access to information you have not learned. It appears your encounter with the divine has left you with more gifts than just a healthy constitution."
"I need to talk to Nahida," Ren said, rubbing his forehead. "She's the avatar of Irminsul. She'll know what this is."
The Sanctuary of Surasthana was peaceful now, the debris of the mecha-god cleared away. Nahida sat on a swing made of dendro energy, humming softly. When Ren arrived, she floated down to greet him.
He explained the new sensation—the plant identification, the telepathy with Ningguang.
Nahida nodded, not surprising him in the least. "I suspected as much. You have touched the consciousness of the Irminsul directly, Ren. And unlike the scholars who need terminals to access it, you… you have been given administrator privileges. Or at least, a guest pass."
She floated around him, observing. "The Akasha system was built to utilize the Irminsul's power to share knowledge. You are doing the same thing, but organically. Your mind is connecting to the ley lines. When you look at a plant, you are querying the Irminsul's database. When you focus on a person, you are establishing a temporary ley line connection to their consciousness, similar to how I can enter dreams or possess Katheryne."
"Is it… dangerous?" Ren asked.
"For you? No," Nahida assured him. "Your connection is surface level. You are skimming the water, not drowning in the ocean like the scholars who go mad. It is a tool. A gift."
She looked at him meaningfully. "A blessing from Time, perhaps? To help you navigate the future you are changing."
Ren nodded. "Istaroth. She said my existence is an anomaly. Maybe this is to help me balance the scales."
He looked down at his hands. "I haven't told Ningguang or Lisa about her. Or about… my past as an experiment."
"That is your choice," Nahida said gently. "Trust is a precious resource. You share what you can, when you are ready. They know you are special. They know you have secrets. As long as you trust them to protect you, the details can wait until you feel safe enough to speak them."
"I think I'll tell them back in Liyue," Ren decided. "When we're home. When things are calm."
"A wise decision," Nahida smiled. "Until then, enjoy your new gifts. It seems you are becoming more like a little Archon every day."
Ren laughed nervously. "Please don't say that. The last thing I need is a Gnosis."
"You already held one," Nahida teased. "And you gave it back. That is what makes you different."
She floated back up to her swing. "Go, Ren. Finish your business here. The wind is rising, and I believe your next journey awaits."
Ren left the Sanctuary, his mind buzzing not just with thoughts, but with the quiet, comforting hum of a world that was now, literally, speaking to him. He was ready to go home.