[Dunyarzad confides: "Do you know, before escaping this time… outside that mansion, the world didn't even know I existed."]
This line instantly reminds everyone of Nahida—the two are so alike.
"No one knows I exist" and "a god who doesn't exist."
Two lonely souls redeeming each other.
["This escape… my family must be both anxious and disappointed in me, but I… just didn't want to leave with regrets."]
In the story, Dunyarzad begins sharing her thoughts with the Traveler—these words bottled up in her heart; she's long wanted to tell someone.
Dunyarzad's parents are shedding tears and shaking their heads, their hands trembling as they hold the book. They have never been disappointed in Dunyarzad—never.
They only feel they've failed her, blaming themselves for not giving their daughter a healthy body.
So they've tried their best to make up for it, spoiling her as much as possible—yet this love has ultimately become a cage.
They love her, protect her, but overlook her own wishes.
Dunyarzad knows she will die; she has accepted her fate, but she has never given up on life.
Because she once saw birds fly far away beyond the window, perched on a tree.
The world is so vast—she wants to see it.
Because on her birthday, flowers bloomed outside the window.
The world is so beautiful—she began looking forward to the next blooming.
Because she once saw a gentle god, her only friend.
The world is so warm—she started to like it; she no longer wanted to die.
Because she has parents who love her, and the world began to like her too—kindness from the world drew close to this girl.
Dunyarzad's life is nearing its end; she wants to leave some trace on this world before dying, proof that she once existed.
Because life—it's not just about length; it also has width.
Dunyarzad's mother is crying uncontrollably; her father pulls her into his arms. Though tears fall, he restrains himself from big movements.
Dehya, who was just comforting Dunyarzad, is now being comforted by Dunyarzad herself.
Death and parting—they're common, yet always heartbreaking.
[Dunyarzad stands up: "The smiles on the faces of those attending the Flower God's Birthday Festival, and friends like Dehya and you… who support me…"]
[She shows a gentle smile, looking back at Lumine: "At least now, many, many people will remember that I existed in this world, right?"]
After speaking her heart, Dunyarzad feels much lighter; the gentle smile on her face gains a touch of relief.
[Lumine, tone firm: "That's right—I'll remember you."]
[Paimon, saddened: "A-as long as you don't forget me, I won't forget you either! Ah… no, wait—even if you forget me, I'll still remember you!"]
In reality, Dunyarzad nearly loses control of her emotions seeing the Traveler and Paimon's responses.
This is what Dunyarzad wanted—she no longer needs consolation; she needs this kind of affirmative answer.
Dunyarzad is like a valley; her empty life makes the valley vast and hollow.
Her parents' love, the god's attention, Dehya's companionship—these all try their best to decorate the valley, making it no longer empty and void.
But now, the Traveler's affirmation isn't decoration for the valley—it's a shout echoing through the valley, filling the mountains.
The shouts in the mountains fill Dunyarzad's heart and soul; she wants even less to die.
The experiences in the book make Dunyarzad love Nahida even more—because without Nahida's appearance, she wouldn't have had the courage to take this step, and wouldn't have met these people.
Perhaps on that night in the past, she would have already "died."
[Dunyarzad says: "…Yes, there will always be things in life that annoy us, but I know—we live so as not to leave regrets, right?"]
This line is too good; unknowingly, it inspires many people, reigniting hope in those who had given up on life.
Yes—life is full of regrets; no matter the choice, there will be remorse. Since that's the case, why dwell and regret? Move forward.
This inner monologue from Dunyarzad makes everyone like this strong girl even more.
Time flows in the story; the sky darkens gradually—it's time for the Dance of the Flower God.
Arriving at the Grand Bazaar, the antagonist appears on stage. Having just experienced warmth and emotion, now it's time to spike everyone's blood pressure.
The Grand Sage and Setaria stand together, confronting Nilou.
[Setaria: "The Flower God's Birthday Festival… privately holding a large-scale divine worship event is expressly prohibited, right? The hosting rights can only be in the Akademiya's hands."]
In fact, in previous years the Grand Bazaar also held the Flower God's Birthday Festival—just without as much funding as this time. So why didn't the Grand Sage stop it before?
Because he looks down on the people of the Grand Bazaar, looks down on these artists. In his view, without the Akademiya's help, they couldn't put on anything decent.
It's just a bunch of mediocrities amusing themselves—doesn't affect his interests.
But this Flower God's Birthday Festival is different; it's within the Grand Sage's plans.
When it affects his own interests, of course the Grand Sage has to show up.
Yet he still looks down on people like Nilou, so at this moment, it's Setaria—a desert folk he also looks down on—who speaks with Nilou.
Perhaps in his mind, Nilou is only fit to talk with desert folk.
The readers have just gone through Dunyarzad's "confession" and are in a vulnerable state. Seeing the Grand Sage appear now is truly—
Like a cat seeing a mouse tied to a fish—I'll kill you over and over!
Grand Sage, you're just a dick! Remember what I'm saying! I'm cursing you right here!
Come on, everyone curse him!
Sage? What kind of sage are you? What do you even manage?
A sage manages knowledge pursuit and national peace, you motherfucking jerk—you don't manage shit, causing the common folk to cry out in suffering.
You motherfucker sitting high in the Akademiya acting all grand, wearing a fur coat inside out pretending—you what kind of sage? You're a dick!
Fuck your mother—I'm telling you, I'll kill you within three days! Organize another group to the Akademiya and kick you bastard—believe it or not?
Already in a bad mood, and this mood can't be vented on Dunyarzad.
Now perfect—the readers seeing the Grand Sage appear finally have an outlet; one by one they become quite unfriendly.
The Grand Sage is a spittoon—Teyvat folks who don't want to spit on the ground finally found a place to spit.
Now Teyvat is about to become a civilized world—how civilized, no spitting on the ground.
In the story, Setaria isn't fully loyal to the Akademiya and is somewhat reluctant to argue with Nilou, so the Grand Sage speaks.
[Azar: "Art… dance… in this nation of wisdom and reason, pursuing such frivolous and empty things—don't you feel ashamed?"]
Kaveh: I'm ashamed of your X, Grand Sage, I XXX, you XX, XXXX.