The sun had long set, casting the alumni house in a cozy, lamp-lit glow, but the atmosphere inside was anything but relaxed. Ren sat at the table, recounting his spectral encounter with Scaramouche. Ningguang listened intently, her fingers tracing the rim of her teacup, her expression a mask of calculating concern.
"Apathy," she murmured, the word hanging heavy in the air. "It is a dangerous state for a being of such power. Rage is predictable. It has a target, a trajectory. But apathy… it means he has detached himself from the consequences of his actions. He sees himself as inevitable."
Ren nodded, his small face serious. "He thinks he's using them. Using Dottore and the Sages to get what he wants. He thinks he's the player, and they're the pawns."
"Naive," Ningguang said sharply. "The Doctor is not a pawn. He is a grandmaster who plays games within games. If Scaramouche believes Dottore is simply handing him godhood out of scientific curiosity, he is walking blindly into a trap." She shook her head. "But if the Balladeer does not care… if he is willing to walk into the fire just to feel the heat… then he is beyond reason."
A sharp, authoritative knock on the heavy wooden door interrupted them.
Ningguang's gaze snapped to the entrance. "Enter."
The door opened to reveal a Matra guard, his face obscured by his helmet, his posture stiff. He held a scroll bearing the seal of the Akademiya.
"Message for the Tianquan of Liyue," he announced, his voice devoid of emotion.
Ningguang took the scroll, unfurling it with a graceful snap. Her eyes scanned the text, narrowing slightly with each line.
"It seems," she said, her voice cool, "that the Grand Sage has decided to tighten the leash."
She read aloud: "Due to credible intelligence regarding a planned attack on the Akademiya by hostile outlander forces, a state of heightened security has been declared. For their own protection, all foreign dignitaries and VIPs residing within Sumeru City are advised to remain within the city limits. Departure from the city is strictly forbidden until further notice."
Ren frowned. "Hostile outlander forces? They mean Lumine."
"And Alhaitham, and probably Cyno as well," Ningguang added. "They are painting the heroes as terrorists to justify a lockdown."
She looked at the guard. "And if I have urgent business outside the city? A trade matter that cannot wait?"
The guard didn't flinch. "In cases of extreme urgency, an exception may be granted. However, such a permit requires the personal signature of a Sage. And currently, the Sages are… occupied with the crisis. They are unavailable."
"How convenient," Ningguang said dryly. "Trapped by bureaucracy and 'protection.' A classic maneuver."
The guard bowed. "It is for your safety, Lady Tianquan. The Corps of Thirty has increased patrols. Please, do not attempt to leave." He turned and marched out, leaving the door to click shut with a finality that echoed in the silent room.
"So," Lisa said, emerging from her room where she had been listening. "We're grounded."
"Effectively," Ningguang agreed. "They cannot arrest us—our diplomatic immunity is too strong. But they can cage us with 'safety protocols.' If we try to force our way out, we create an international incident, which is exactly what Azar wants to avoid… or perhaps, what he wants to provoke to justify further action."
She turned to Ren. "We wait. Lumine is the key. She is out there, moving pieces we cannot see. We must wait for her signal before we make our move."
Ren nodded, though the inactivity chafed at him. He hated waiting while his friends were in danger.
Later that night, long after Ningguang and Lisa had retired, Ren sat by the open window of his room, staring out at the glowing city. The Divine Tree shimmered above, a cage of light and leaves.
A soft whirring sound caught his attention.
He looked down. Hovering just outside his window was a small, mechanical bird. It was crafted from white and blue metal, its design intricate and elegant, mimicking the form of a crane. Its eyes glowed with a soft, adeptal gold.
Ren smiled. It was a messenger from Cloud Retainer.
The bird landed on the sill, its mechanical wings folding neatly. A small compartment in its chest clicked open, revealing a small, velvet-lined box.
Ren took the box carefully. He knew what this was. He had asked for it during his call with his master, a contingency plan, a "break in case of emergency" request he had whispered to Xianyun through the sigil.
He opened the lid.
Inside, resting on the velvet, was a single object. It was small, unassuming, yet it hummed with a concentrated, potent energy that made the hair on his arms stand up.
He stared at it, a slow, grateful smile spreading across his face.
"Master," he whispered into the night air. "You really do trust me with everything."
He closed the box with a soft snap and tucked it deep into his pocket, right next to his vision-less vision devices.
It was a last resort. The nuclear option. He hoped, truly hoped, he wouldn't have to use it. But knowing it was there, a silent, powerful secret in his pocket, gave him a sense of calm amidst the gathering storm.
Let Azar lock the gates. Let Dottore spin his webs. Ren was ready.