Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon rode through the fading darkness, guiding their horses toward Pardis Dhyai with the injured Dehya in tow.
After traveling all night, the first light of dawn spread across the sky, and at last, the four of them arrived at their destination—Pardis Dhyai.
As they dismounted and prepared to search for Dehya's mercenaries, they noticed a young Eremite standing guard outside the sanctuary.
The man's eyes widened in astonishment when he recognized Dehya on Lumine's horse. His face broke into an ecstatic grin as he waved frantically. "Captain! You're finally here!"
Hearing that familiar voice, Dehya immediately turned her head.
Upon seeing the young man clearly, she realized it was Hisham, one of her own. A rush of relief and worry welled up inside her as she asked anxiously, "Hisham, how is everyone? Are they safe?"
The joy on Hisham's face faded into a somber expression.
He hesitated, then said heavily, "Captain… things aren't great. If you hadn't drawn those twisted Fatui away, we wouldn't even have been able to retrieve the bodies."
He exhaled slowly, the memory still sending a chill down his spine.
Then, remembering something important, he looked back at Dehya in alarm. "Wait—Captain, how's your arm? I remember it was—"
Thanks to the two bottles of Shao Yun's miraculous potion, Dehya's wounds had already healed significantly.
Still, she couldn't help but worry whether they would leave any scars.
In response to Hisham's concern, Dehya leapt lightly from her horse, showing that she could move freely again.
"Don't worry," she said with a reassuring smile. "It doesn't hurt anymore, and it's stopped bleeding. What about everyone else, though?"
Hisham's expression darkened further.
"Well… morale's not great. We've been through plenty together—life and death are nothing new for mercenaries—but this time…"
He sighed deeply before continuing. "Even the most ruthless Eremite bands wouldn't stoop to something as inhuman as turning their men into walking bombs."
Hearing that, Dehya's heart sank, guilt flickering in her eyes. "I see… then I need to apologize to everyone. This whole mission was my idea."
Hisham quickly waved his hands. "No, Captain! Everyone joined this operation because they believed in the cause. No one was forced. Seeing you safe again will lift their spirits more than anything."
Dehya pressed her lips together. "Even so…"
Before she could finish, Hisham gently cut her off. "Let's not dwell on that right now. A kind forest ranger offered us shelter here in Pardis Dhyai. You should see the others—they've been worried sick about you."
He turned, motioning politely for her to follow.
Dehya nodded, though countless thoughts swirled in her mind. Regret would have to wait—for now, she needed to see her people.
"Alright, let's go."
At that moment, Paimon perked up. The mention of a "kind forest ranger" immediately reminded her of Tighnari.
Leaning toward Lumine, she whispered excitedly, "A forest ranger? You don't think it's actually Tighnari, do you?"
But Shao Yun had no interest in guessing.
"Whoever that ranger is, I'm more curious about something else…"
…
Following Dehya and Hisham, Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon entered Pardis Dhyai.
After a while, Shao Yun glanced at Dehya. "That 'hope' Hisham mentioned—was that something Nahida told you?"
Dehya nodded and explained frankly.
"The Dendro Archon said that once we put an end to the Akademiya's insane God-Creation plan, she would abolish their long-standing blockade on the desert people. From then on, all citizens of Sumeru would be allowed, after proper examination, to study at the Akademiya. She also promised to increase educational resources for the desert region."
Shao Yun's face remained unreadable.
To him, it all seemed natural enough.
Of course, Nahida would do that—she was compassionate by nature. Besides, if you wanted people's wholehearted support, you had to offer something in return. That was simple logic.
Right, Venti, Zhongli, Ayaka?
"…I see," Shao Yun murmured.
Dehya sighed. "I originally wanted to reach out to more sympathetic Eremite groups—to rally their support. But we ran out of time. If we'd had more people, maybe we could've succeeded."
Shao Yun shook his head slowly. "Trust me, numbers wouldn't have changed anything. Those Fatui were built to die. The Doctor made them that way. More allies would've just meant more casualties."
Dehya's shoulders drooped. "Still… it feels like such a waste. Such a missed chance."
Shao Yun thought to himself, That's normal. When people fail, regret always comes first.
…
Inside Pardis Dhyai, they were met with the sight of the Blazing Beasts Mercenary Corps.
The surviving members sat in small groups, resting on the grass, their faces shadowed by exhaustion and grief. The horror of the Fatui's self-detonations had clearly scarred them deeply.
But the moment they spotted Dehya's familiar figure, a ripple of excitement spread through the camp. The dull despair in their eyes was instantly replaced with relief and joy.
Seeing their reaction, Dehya smiled warmly and turned to the others. "Sorry, everyone—I need to talk with my team for a bit. I'll catch up with you later."
She walked off to meet her mercenaries, offering comfort and encouragement as she went.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, a forest ranger with fox-like ears was tending to the wounded with practiced care.
Paimon squinted, then gasped in delight. "Wait a sec! Isn't that Tighnari? I knew it—the kind forest ranger really is him!"
Tighnari's ears twitched at the sound of his name. He turned, recognizing them instantly.
"So, it was you three."
Paimon fluttered over eagerly. "Tighnari! I thought you'd be in Gandharva Ville right now. What brings you to Pardis Dhyai?"
Tighnari stroked his chin thoughtfully before replying. "Two reasons, actually. First, it's about Haypasia.
"She came to me recently, saying she had completed her so-called 'Phase of Wilderness Rapture' and entered the 'Stage of Silent Perfection.'"
"But when I examined her condition, I realized something was very wrong. Her mind wasn't serene—it was broken."
Paimon's eyes widened. "You mean… Haypasia went insane?"
Tighnari nodded gravely, then shook his head slightly.
"Yes and no. Her case is unusual. That's why I quietly brought her here, hoping to find a way to restore her sanity. Otherwise, she'd have been exiled to Aaru Village by the Matra already."
He paused briefly, then continued, "As for the second reason… it's a bit more peculiar."
"To be honest, you might not believe it, but the Lesser Lord Kusanali herself told me you'd need my help. And since I was already nearby, I suppose you could call it fate."
Shao Yun let out a quiet breath. Two reasons, huh? Neither all that complicated, really…