"Eleazar… that's Eleazar…"
"The disease that has tormented Sumeru for over a thousand years… Even Greater Lord Rukkhadevata could not cure it…"
"And now it's healed?!"
"Mother! You can live!"
"Thank you, Lady Nahida! You've given us our lives back!"
When they saw Dunyarzad's arm with their own eyes, smooth, radiant, free of those hideous gray-black scales, the entire plaza broke into tears.
Even when Nahida demonstrated desert restoration, they had not dared to believe she could cure Eleazar.
Transforming the desert was a miracle once performed by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Though astonishing, it existed in their history.
But Eleazar?
That was a terminal illness even the former Dendro Archon had never solved.
Now it was gone.
In that instant, many citizens felt that Nahida had already surpassed Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Yet Nahida herself knew better.
Everything she had accomplished relied on materials from Ryen's Minecraft world.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had reshaped Sumeru with her own divine power, creating the rainforest itself.
The two could not be compared.
Dunyarzad's parents rushed forward, tears flowing freely.
Her mother cupped her face, lips trembling.
"Dunyarzad… you're really healed?"
"I'm really healed!" Dunyarzad nodded firmly.
"No aftereffects? Any pain? Dizziness?"
Her normally stern father examined her arm again and again, as though appraising a priceless treasure.
To him, she was.
He had prayed countless times that if she could be cured, he would give up every Mora he owned.
What was wealth compared to a family intact?
Seeing no trace of scales, he wiped his tears discreetly.
"Good… good. From now on, whatever you want to do, Father will support you."
"When Lady Nahida's affairs settle, we'll travel. Liyue, Mondstadt, everywhere."
"We'll make up for everything."
Her mother hugged her tightly.
"My beautiful girl… no more worrying about those awful scales."
"You're the most beautiful girl in Sumeru."
Dunyarzad lowered her head.
"I'm sorry for hiding it from you. The cure was part of the plan to overthrow Azar. I had to consider Lady Nahida's position…"
Her father gently patted her shoulder.
"You're our daughter. There's nothing to apologize for."
"And if it was for Lady Nahida? How could we blame you?"
He then bowed deeply to Nahida.
"Lady Nahida, you saved my daughter, my entire world. The Humay family has nothing worthy of repaying you. But whatever you ask, we will give."
Nahida shook her head softly.
"It wasn't me. It was Dehya and Nilou."
"They hurried to Liyue to obtain milk for her."
"Dunyarzad's kindness earned her such wonderful friends."
Her father turned gratefully.
"Miss Dehya. Miss Nilou. Any request, "
Dehya waved it off with a grin.
"She's my employer, and my friend. Of course I'd help."
Nilou nodded.
"She supported the Grand Bazaar during the art ban. Selling her own belongings to keep it alive. I couldn't stand aside."
Dunyarzad's mother wiped her tears.
"Still… please accept our gratitude."
Dehya and Nilou exchanged awkward looks.
Nilou quickly redirected the topic.
"Lady Nahida still has much to announce."
The family retreated.
Nahida faced the crowd again.
"Now you can confirm it for yourselves. Eleazar can truly be cured."
"And not only Eleazar."
"Milk can cure nearly all diseases and curses, so long as they are not fundamentally irreversible."
"It is a common resource within the alliance."
"You may ask citizens from the other four nations. Milk has already become standardized medicine in their lands."
People from Liyue, Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Snezhnaya nodded solemnly.
But Sumeru's citizens no longer felt the need to verify.
At this moment, Nahida's words were truth.
If she declared the sun square, the Akademiya would amend every textbook accordingly.
(And in Ryen's world, the sun was square.)
Nahida continued gently:
"I understand many suffer from illness, especially Eleazar."
"This matter takes top priority."
"I brought a supply of milk from Liyue, but it is insufficient for everyone."
"We will treat Eleazar patients first, prioritized by severity."
"For other illnesses, please seek diagnosis at pharmacies. Treatment order will be determined accordingly."
"Please endure three days. The Akademiya will procure large quantities of milk and alchemical potions."
"Within one week, milk will be universally available."
"From that day onward, I will not allow any citizen to lose their life to disease."
No one objected.
If Eleazar patients had suffered the most, they should be treated first.
Gratitude filled the plaza.
Yet Nahida continued before excitement overtook the moment.
"We will also import alchemical potions until we can produce them ourselves."
"These potions strengthen individuals and restore vitality."
"Especially the Healing Potions, you have witnessed their effects."
"They can even regenerate severed limbs."
Everyone nodded.
Azar at the city gate had been forced to drink them daily to survive his punishment.
And merchants had already traded such potions, though previously at exorbitant prices.
Now, as alliance members, Sumeru would receive them at cost.
No one dared calculate how much they had overpaid before.
Some truths were best left unspoken.
Curing Eleazar.
Restoring the desert.
Joining the alliance.
Strengthening the military.
Nahida had accomplished more in a single day than many rulers could in decades.
Many sincerely believed she had surpassed Greater Lord Rukkhadevata as Sumeru's most qualified Archon.
At the very least,
Under her leadership, they could see a future.
Nahida did not rush the remaining announcements. The integration of the Eremites and the Corps of Thirty would pass without resistance at this point.
She had not expected governing a nation could feel this smooth.
But she knew why.
Because Ryen and the alliance had paved the path.
As he once said,
He would handle the complications.
She only needed to stand here and receive the glory that was hers.
And the cheers of her people.
Her heart warmed.
She glanced at Ryen.
He secretly formed a heart gesture with his hands.
Nahida smiled even brighter.
She had not nestled in his arms all day.
She missed it.
Being an Archon, receiving the adoration of a nation, this was responsibility.
But her true place of comfort?
Was in Ryen's small courtyard.
He reclining in a rocking chair.
She lying in his arms.
No one disturbing them.
Basking quietly in the sun,
For an entire afternoon.