When speaking of Sumeru's cuisine or famous restaurants, most people struggle to name any in particular.
Mondstadt has Good Hunter and Goth Hotel.
Inazuma has Uyuu Restaurant.
Liyue hardly needs introduction, Liuli Pavilion, Xinyue Kiosk, and Wanmin Restaurant are all widely renowned.
But Sumeru?
Even Sumeru's own citizens hesitate when asked.
Ask about cafés, however, and they become experts.
Along the main avenues of Sumeru City, one finds café after café every few dozen meters. Large or small, each serves its own specialty brew. For many citizens, meals are little more than an accompaniment to coffee.
As Alhaitham once put it, coffee sharpens the mind. In the Nation of Wisdom and Reason, nothing matters more than mental clarity.
Restaurants do exist, of course, but grand banquets are rare. The rational ethos of Sumeru traditionally discourages indulgence of the senses. Under the former Grand Sage's doctrine, pleasure was dismissed as frivolous. Intellectual pursuit reigned supreme.
Thus, recreational and culinary spaces within the city were scarce. Nahida had long noticed this, resolving quietly to improve it in time. After all, a flourishing spiritual life is part of genuine prosperity.
The group sampled a modest Sumeru-style meal, subtle, aromatic, distinct in its own way.
Then they set off.
Though Nahida concealed her identity, such a striking entourage inevitably drew attention. Merchants from Liyue and other nations were present throughout the city, and figures like Ningguang were easily recognized.
Fortunately, Liyue merchants merely greeted them politely. With Sumeru joining the Four-Nation Alliance, and the Archons themselves having visited, an inspection by prominent leaders was hardly surprising.
Sumeru was not yet like Liyue. In Liyue Harbor, during festivals, shops would open freely to all, expenses covered by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Sumeru did not yet possess such financial confidence. Still, prices today were noticeably reduced.
Nahida and Klee walked hand in hand, bouncing like twin sisters. Paimon dozed on Ryen's shoulder, subdued by post-meal drowsiness, though a snack would instantly revive her.
Nahida listened quietly to passing conversations.
Citizens spoke animatedly about the Akademiya ceremony, about desert restoration, Eleazar's cure, the alliance. Joy overflowed.
At first, Nahida felt warmed.
Gradually, however, embarrassment crept in.
The praise was excessive.
They compared her to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Called her the most benevolent Archon. The purest, kindest Dendro Archon in the world.
And then,
A young woman raised her fist and declared loudly before the crowd:
"I am Lady Nahida's slave!"
Her voice rang like a sermon.
"I will devote myself eternally to Lady Nahida! I am forever her loyal hound!"
Shockingly, applause followed. Others echoed her words, swearing similar devotion.
Nahida's face burned crimson.
Head lowered, she grabbed Ryen and Klee's hands and hurried around a corner until the voices faded.
"What is going on?!" she muttered in distress.
"That's too extreme!"
Ryen pinched her cheek teasingly.
"Deep down, you enjoyed it a little, didn't you?"
She glared at him.
"How could I enjoy something like that? I'm not a tyrant!"
She firmly believed in equality.
In her heart, no one was another's slave.
She puffed her cheeks indignantly.
"I'll speak with the Akademiya tomorrow. Cyno must ensure such thinking doesn't spread. We'll stop it at the source."
The others struggled not to laugh.
Ryen checked the sky.
Evening approached.
It was time for the Grand Bazaar.
They had saved it for nightfall, when lanterns would glow and atmosphere deepen. And Nilou's performance would soon begin.
"Let's go," Ryen said with a smile. "It's time to see the legendary Dance of Sabzeruz."
Nahida's eyes sparkled instantly.
If asked who anticipated the dance most, she would rank second only to Dunyarzad.
In truth, it made sense that she and Dunyarzad became close friends.
One had dreamed of seeing the dance before dying.
The other had been imprisoned for five hundred years, dreaming of the same.
Fate had aligned their wishes.
Turning a corner, they encountered Dunyarzad, Dehya, and Dunyarzad's parents.
The Homayani family had been granted leave despite current responsibilities. Today, they were simply a family.
Dunyarzad glowed with health. No more scales. No more concealment.
Her mother had dragged her through endless shopping to compensate for lost years. Dehya had suffered alongside her, warrior of the desert though she was, fashion shopping was not her battlefield.
Dehya smiled.
"You're going to see Nilou too? The Grand Bazaar is already packed. Nilou reserved seats for us, come along."
They proceeded together.
The entrance was crowded beyond measure, yet citizens parted respectfully for them.
Inside, scholars, mercenaries, merchants, and citizens mingled freely. The Grand Bazaar had never felt so alive.
Nahida sat on Ryen's lap, eyes fixed on the Zubayr Theater stage.
Night deepened.
Then, the lights ignited.
Nilou emerged in radiant attire, bowing gracefully.
The crowd fell silent.
Only a single beam illuminated her.
The art once suppressed under tyranny now blossomed openly beneath the stars of Sumeru.
Nahida's eyes curved with delight. Flowers seemed to bloom across the stage.
Nilou began to dance.
Her movements flowed like petals carried by wind, gentle, luminous, free.
Beautiful, undeniably.
But to Ryen,
The most beautiful sight was the small Archon clapping happily on his lap.
He rested his chin lightly against her head.
"Nahida… happy birthday."