Hold over Myriad of Worlds

Sumeru Akademiya was located in the giant tree trunk at the center of the city. It towered over everything, a constant reminder of its power over Sumeru. Divided into Six Darshans, each representing a type of wisdom pursued over a thousand years of its existence, this place truly became the center of the academic world here in Teyvat.

-"Do you know any plan of action?"

-"Meet little Dendro lord and engage in discussion."

-"Very detailed strategy."

-"Do you have a better idea?"

-"I'm just appreciating the direct methods you employ."

-"Heh, aren't you the old man who tries to stage his own death in order to retire? The directness of your methods is not much worse."

We made our way into the library, where I felt a small ripple appearing nearby. I looked over, and a petite figure was hiding behind a corner. She was carefully watching us.

-"I believe our host has arrived."

-"Good. Let's pick a quiet place to sit and talk."

We chose a small reading room in a corner, and after getting comfortable, we waited until the child approached us.

-"What can I do for you, Barbatos and Morax? Did you appear in Sumeru for some kind of purpose?"

-"Welcome Buer. I and Venti mostly wanted to meet you for the first time."

-"It's me who wants some things from you. I'm Yue. It's nice to meet you."

-"My name is Nahida. I'm the new Dendro Archon. What does the anomaly like you seek from me?"

-"I want to study the Sumeru's Akasha System."

-"Why?"

-"To create something similar."

-"This subject concerns the well-being of many people. I can't agree to it."

-"While you are right, I analyzed those terminals people are wearing and can say that the system right now is posing a danger to them."

-"..."

-"It would seem you are aware of that."

-"Great sage is using the system to further his ascension project. I warned him of the danger, but he won't heed my words."

-"Then why don't you allow me to research it? I can help alleviate burdens and even find the solution."

-"Nahida, I can understand your worries. Yue is not one of those who exploit others for gain. I can create a contract if you feel unsure."

-"Then please, I'll allow you to study and even copy the system if you help stop the Withering."

-"The Withering? Can you explain?"

-"It's an ailment that slowly erodes the life of Sumeru. It destroys plants and makes it impossible to grow new crops where it appears. Worst yet, it can spread to humans and infect them with so-called Eleazar."

-"I see. I can do this, but I will need assistance to understand the situation first." 

-"Then we have an agreement. One of the great sages who still listens to my words is called Naphis. He is imprisoned here, but his knowledge as leader of Amurta will be of assistance to you."

-"Then I'll meet him. In the meantime, you three have a great conversation." 

-"Good luck, Yue!"

-"Take care."

I left the room and scanned the whole city for any prisoners. Soon, I found an older man locked inside a room filled with books and biological models. I teleported into it, and when he saw me, he was not afraid but rather irked by my arrival.

-"Another one sent here to convince me of that charlatanry. I will not work with you! Leave!"

-"Calm down a little. I'm here with a different purpose. Let me introduce myself. I'm Yue. Nahida recommended I speak with you in order to understand more about the Withering and Eleazar."

-"Huh? You are not one of Azar's pawns? Good then. I'm called Naphis. Why are you interested in those cured things?"

-"I've made contact with Buer to solve troubles brought by those."

-"Hmm, while I don't believe you have the power to do anything, I can teach you. If, by chance, you truly can eradicate that illness, it would be a blessing for all of Sumeru."

He started explaining the symptoms and many other aspects of Withering. During hours-long discussions, we even started doing experiments on samples he had on hand. Sadly, it was of no effect.

-"The Withering appears not to be an illness. You maybe were right calling it a cure."

-"Curses and such are not fields of my experience, but knowing history, most people consider it as such."

-"For now, I see only two possibilities of solving this thing. Trying to find if it truly is a curse or finding its source."

-"The Withering originated in the center of the Emirates, but we came up with nothing when an expedition was sent there."

-"No harm in looking again. Allow me to excuse myself for now."

-"Go, don't worry about me here."

-"Then, I'll wait for the day you are free again."

-"Heh. That bastard Azar won't let me go easily."

I left Naphis and teleported toward the desserts of the Emirates.

Sand. That's all I can say about this place. Mountains of sandstone, dunes, and sporadic ruins. One could see past tragedy still echoes in the surroundings. 

At first, I went toward Aaru Village. Here, I searched for any useful information about the origins of the Withering. Sadly, no one knew anything more than I had already been told before.

The only useful information was about a legendary figure named King Deshret. Nearby valley, called Eye of the Sands. I traveled there and was met with a strange place. Passing through the entrance, you could see that something was wrong here.

A quick look around, some ruins attracted my attention. While most had nothing interesting inside, one held a puzzle inside. After completing it, I was led to two others. 

Dispatching some enemies, I solved both them and riddles for the sudden change to occur. The wind picked up, and the sand shifted. The next moment outside changed. In the middle now stands an ancient palace. 

I flew close to it, and just before the entrance stood a stone tablet. 

'Halls of the royal crown, may all praise King Deshret.'

Entering, I looked forward. There stood the throne, the high and mighty tyrant of the past. To find the answers about the fall of this place, I manifested powers of Finality.

Shadows started moving, and vague figures appeared around. The whole room returned to the past glory once again. Guards stood near the walls, ministers knelt bellow, and on the throne sat a lone figure.

Images of the past started showing, and days of glory passed into tragedies only to be redeemed. History becomes now, to unravel itself before me.

I got to learn many things about Emirates, but I could not find answers to Whitening. Luckily, this trip was not wasted, as I uncovered a few new clues.

The next place I went to is known as the Mausoleum of King. Giant pyramid with ominous clouds revolving over it. Definitely the most majestic place in Teyvat so far.

The entrance was sealed in a similar way as the throne room before. This time, I teleported directly inside so as not to waste time. When I was walking through empty halls, shadows of the past were summoned by me again.

Finally, I came to know about the Sin of Deshret. Mortal pursuit of immortality, obsession for the divine, and lastly outside influence it brought. Story tragic, yet common.

⌊ Immortality is a curse, vain hope for those without, and endless suffering for those with. When tomorrow is only a hope, you cherish every day you get. If you have endless time, every single moment becomes meaningless.⌉

While thinking like that, I arrived at the top. Here, in the eye of the cyclone, was a singular person waiting. His existence corroded, with a twisted form and blackened soul. As I approached, he turned and spoke to me.

-"Leave."

His eyes were empty, just an empty doll with no will to live.

-"King Deshret, I assume."

Hearing this name his eyes showed pain before returning to emptiness.

-"Such person no longer exists, now only sinner remains."

-"I can see that."

-"Why have you come here?"

-"To end the Withering."

-"I will not allow it! She does not deserve such ending!"

-"I do not know of whom you speak. I can solve this tragedy, but I need your assistance."

-"How?"

-"Everything started here. I'll return to the day of that tragedy and stop any corruption from remaining. While I can't save you nor change what becomes of this land, stopping the growth of Withering is something I can accomplish."

-"Isn't past absolute? How can you change it?"

-"I can't. I won't change it. I will only modify it."

-"..."

-"Don't look at me like a fool. I plan to insert something into the Sin you speak of so that I can gather and eliminate it in the present. That way, the present will still be the same, but not the future."

-"Can you succeed?"

-"Yes"

-"Then what do you need me for?"

-"Leave some of your memories inside it as a message to your past self to assist me."- I passed him the so-called memory crystal

-"Good."

-"Then I'll be back."

I stepped back and activated the power of Finality. In my eyes, the whole world started distorting, and soon, I disappeared from the present. When I opened my eyes again, it was over 500 years before. 

In front of me was King Deshret. Still looking like a human, he was trying to contain the starting disaster. Nearby, you could see a great dragon helping the king. 

I also joined to share some burdens with the king. He looked at me surprised, and I tossed a crystal in my hand to him. He quickly scanned the insides and showed an understanding look.

-"I see, so it was a failure."

-"Deshret?"

-"Apep, it seems you will have to suffer a little."- The king threw the crystal to the dragon.

-"Future? Are we going to believe it?"

-"We have no choice. I can't keep up, and he offers the only way forward I can see."

-"Then Yue, right? Do what you must."

I nodded. My power infiltrated into the 'filth'. I enveloped the whole thing with the power of Destruction, implanting the seed that, when grown, will eliminate it fully.

-"Done now rest is history."

-"Thank you."

-"No need. I also have my own interests." 

-"You still shoved me the way forward."

I only nodded at him. Just when the world again was turning gray to allow my return I heard his last words

-"Please take care of her."

I returned back. Deshret now looked at me with confusion. He couldn't get a grasp on this strange feeling.

-"Don't think too much. You are confused because [Correction Force] is doing its job to keep history right.

-"I'll try. Then now, what is left to do?"

-"You have to bid farewell. Your state is beyond saving. Corrupted spirit with no true body. When I start, your death is certain."

-"Right... can you write a letter in my name."

-"What do you want to say?"-I asked while taking out some writing utensils.

-"Then..."- he dictated three messages, one to an old friend, one to his trusted aid Kasala, and one to surviving people of the Emirates.

-"Any last words?"

-"Don't let someone commit the same mistakes as me." 

I nodded at him and triggered a seed of destruction. He instantly noticed the change, smiled and faded into ash. Everywhere 'filth' started disappearing, and every person inflicted with Eleazar instantly noticed the change. When they understood what had happened, the joy of survival was endless.

Deep under Sumeru, in a place where a beautiful tree grow, a figure emerged. She looked shocked, looking around as if looking for something. Soon, she sighed in relief. Then she looked over to the letter I teleported on request of Deshret.

After reading about the truth of the matter, she mourned her old friend and decided to seek one responsible for that.

When I confirmed that the Withering was no more, I returned to Sumeru city, where three Archons were sitting inside a cafe looking at the commotion outside.

-"I told you, he will complete that in a day."

-"You win, old man."

-"Incomprehensible. How did you achieve that? The greatest researchers of Akademiya worked for countless years and couldn't find something to slow down the Withering. Now you eliminated it entirely in a day."

-"I'm lucky to have flexible power."

-"I'll take you to where Akasha System is located."

-"Thank you."

We went toward Akademiya, but before the entrance, a great crowd was gathered. A mass of scholars and citizens was shouting for answers about what happened. On the balcony above stood a person people call a Great Sage.

-"Azar. What is he trying to do?"

-"He is the current leader of Sumeru, right?"

-"Yes. The same person who imprisoned my true body."

-"Don't you better do something to escape?"

-"I already consulted Zhongli and Venti. I'll confront him when we go there."

-"Good luck then."

We pushed through the crowd toward the entrance. Midway we started hearing Azar's speech. He spun a narrative about the great achievement of Akademiya, lying without remorse. 

-"That bastard writes better fantasy than some of my stories."

-"Don't bother Venti."

-"Right, I don't need recognition. And in the end, I did it for reward. I don't deserve a heroic name for that. "

-"I don't agree with that. Heroes are judged by their deeds, not aims. Only fools and saints act with no self-interests."

-"I also agree with Barbatos. Worry not. I'll be sure to make it right."- Plesant voice sounded by the entrance.

We looked over, and soon a woman bearing great similarity with Nahida exited. Zhongli and Venti were shocked when they saw who it was. When people saw her, they knelt down. Even Araz looked shaken. Soon, only five of us were standing.

-"People of Sumeru, I'm deeply saddened by what I see. I slept for 500 years, and when I woke up, my inheritor was imprisoned, sages hides the truth, and even the principles Akademiya was founded upon were thrown aside."

-"Lord Rukkhadevata!"-Shouted Azar. -"You've returned!"

-"Yes, Thanks to the work of a person whose achievement you now claimed for yourself!"- Rukkhadevata looked visibly upset. -"I'm horrified by what you became. How many times do we have to commit the same mistake before we learn? Khaenri'ah, Emirates, and now you push for the folly of divinity."

People around stirred, as whispers started all around.

-"Let me tell you a story. Of how obsession ruined a nation, a king who failed his people, and a traveler who changed the whole script to allow a good ending. Barbatos, will you assist me?"

-"Of course!"

-"Then it all started in the heart of dessert..."

Rukkhadevata recounted her experiences in addition to what was written in Deshret's letter. Skillful assistance from Venti made the whole story more like an epic myth. When story time ended, everybody looked at me shocked. 

-"I believe your recounting gives me a little too much credit. You and the king deserve the honors of heroes, both ready to sacrifice your whole existence. I just was at a good place with the right tools."

-"That may be, but you are not only my savior but also of many in the crowd. But let's focus on a more pressing matter. Trial for sinners."