chapter 9 - sumeru trip

"FINALLY FINISHED" I shouted as I finally closed my research. My paper was done. The work is not finished, but seems like I finally finished my studies.

Venti, for some reason was laying on the couch, terribly hangover.

"Shh, please be quiet Tessa, my head is killing me"

"You're an archon, I am pretty sure hangover can't kill you" I said. "Besides, I've never asked you to stay in my apartment"

"Yeah, yeah" he covered his eyes and pulled up the blanket I gave him.

I started thinking about my next step. The work is done, but I have to go back to Sumeru to submit my paper at the Akademiya. And I made a promise to the Traveler...

I walked up to the sleeping Venti and shook his shoulder.

"Mmhm" he mumbled.

"Venti, can you contact the Traveler?"

He rubbed his eyes. "Well, technically yes" he said.

"And would you do it for me?"

"Sure, sure" he said. "I can send them a message"

"Then, please tell them that if they want to go to Sumeru, meet me at the Statue of the Seven in the Chasm, let's see... four days from now" I said.

"Of course" he said and went back to sleep. I was hoping he would actually send that message...

*The next morning*

I stood at the city gate, saying goodbye to Klee.

"Don't worry, little one, I will return soon" I patted her head. Her big eyes were full of tears. Even though I told her that this time I only leave for a short time, she was scared that I wouldn't return.

"Promise me you will be a good girl and listen to Jean, alright?"

She nodded her head. Jean smiled at me and held Klee's tiny hand. "Come, Klee, Tessa needs to leave now" she said. I gave one last kiss to Klee's face and waved goodbye to them.

I had a long journey to Liyue. And two and a half days later, I arrived at the Chasm. I climbed up to the statue and set up a tent. Now I just have to wait for the Traveler. I hope Venti really contacted them.

I sat by the statue, admiring the beautiful view from up there. On one side, there was the Chasm with the endlessly deep mines, and on the other side, the rainforest of Sumeru. I felt peace and an easiness in my chest.

I closed my eyes to enjoy the warmth of the sun. I just ate, the taste of meat and apples were still present in my mouth.

I went to such a peaceful state that eventually I fell asleep. I woke up to someone shaking my shoulder.

I looked up to a pair of golden brown eyes.

I rubbed my eyes.

"Oh, Traveler and Paimon, hello" I waved.

"Have you been waiting for long?" asked Paimon worriedly. "We are really sorry, we just got your message from Venti"

I laughed. I didn't expect anything else from that bard.

"Not long, don't worry" I looked around. The sun was already going down. "We should wait until tomorrow, the rainforest is dangerous at night. I suggest to prepare dinner and have a rest. While we eat, you can ask any question you have"

The Traveler insisted to make dinner as a payment for my help. I told them it's not necessary as I would go to Sumeru anyway. While they were preparing the food and while we ate, Paimon asked me a ton of questions. About animals and plants, enemies and the scholars. I gave them a brief introduction to what they need to know.

"Sumeru is thankfully a welcoming nation" I said. "You will not face any obstacles at the City of Sumeru. But I recommend you to keep a low profile, the sages seem super nice, but they are suspicious towards outlanders"

They both nodded.

"I... don't know what else to tell you and you will probably forget most of it. I suggest you to get an Akasha Terminal."

"Akasha Terminal? What is that?" asked Paimon.

I took the little, green, leaf-shaped device out from my bag and placed it on my ear.

"This"

Paimon flew closer to me to take a look at my ear.

"And what is that?" she asked. Traveler also peaked closer to the strange device.

"It's like... a tiny library" I explained. "I can't give you mine to try it as it is personalized, but it's basically an access to knowledge in Sumeru. You ask a question, and the device is placing the answer in your brain"

"Whoah, it's sooo cool" exclaimed Paimon. "Can you ask it where can we find the dendro archon?"

I shook my head with a smile.

"I can't do that" I said. "I mean.. I've tried before, but maybe my access to this knowledge is limited due to being an outlander.. I don't know. You have to figure that out for yourselves"

"And what type of person is that dendro archon?" asked Paimon.

"Mmm, let's see.. She's different from the Raiden Shogun and Rex Lapis. She never appears before the public. And she was born only five hundred years ago, after the previous god died"

"Oh, that's bad news for us" said Paimon. "I bet she doesn't know much about Khaenri'ah then..."

"Maybe she does" I added. "Knowledge is connected in Sumeru. But... you have to know that Sumeru is mostly led by logic and mundane knowledge. A deity for them is nothing but a tool."

I saw they were processing all the things I told them tonight.

"But... that's enough for tonight. Let's go to sleep. I take the night watch" I offered. I wasn't tired thanks to my little afternoon nap.

We headed out first thing in the morning. I showed them the tunnel in the Chasm which leads directly to Sumeru. There are other ways to reach the Nation of Wisdom, but that was the easiest one.

They were completely stunned by the rainforest, I couldn't help but laugh at them.

"What?" huffed Paimon.

"Nothing it's just... I kind of miss this feeling... for me these sights are natural now"

"Right, because you lived here for many years" nodded Paimon.

We noticed a person in the woods. They wanted to talk to them, so they ran off.

"Hey, stop" I shouted. "She can't answer you" But they couldn't hear me anymore. But I knew what the situation was... she was a researcher and she came here to meditate.

Oh shit.

I ran after them, but by the time I caught up, Traveler was already laying on the ground. Paimon shouted around them and she seemed to be totally desperate.

"Don't worry Paimon" I tried to calm her down.

"Calm down?!" she shouted. "Is he going to die? What's wrong with him, Tessa?!"

Some Forest Rangers heard Paimon, so they came to check on us. I recognized one of them - Tighnari - he was well known because he graduated early from the Academiya, but he decided to join the Forest Rangers instead of staying in the city.

"What happened?" he asked. "And who are you guys?"

I briefly explained the situation to him. "I am Tessa, a foreign student of the Academiya. They are the Traveler and their companion, Paimon, you've probably heard about them." I sighed. "I promised them to show the way to Sumeru, but they ran off and he probably inhaled too much of that researchers incense" I knocked my head towards the woman's direction.

"Why didn't you warn them?" he asked.

"As I said, they ran off and I didn't know there would be someone meditating" I said. "You're Tighnari, right?" I asked. He nodded.

"Tighnari, the problem is that I have to be in the city as soon as possible. Can you please take care of them for me?"

"Yes, of course"

"Thank you"

"No need. It's part of our duty"

"Are you seriously leaving us?" asked Paimon histerically.

"It's fine, Paimon. You can trust them. Good luck with your travels"

I said goodbye to them and hurried to Sumeru City. I just arrived in time to submit my paper...

*A couple days later*

I stared at my certification with glowing eyes.

I did it. I graduated from the Akademiya. I am a researcher now.

I knew that the work wasn't done yet, but I got through the biggest obstacle.

Time to go back to Mondstadt I guess.

As I was going through the city gates of Sumeru, I saw two familiar figures.

"Traveler, Paimon" I waved at them. I saw they were already wearing the Akasha Terminal.

"Heey, Tessa" waved Paimon. "Did you submit your paper in time?"

"Yeah, and I technically graduated" I smiled.

"Congratulations!" they said at the same time.

"Whoah, that was fast" said Paimon. "It's amazing"

"Actually, foreign students have different procedures" I shrugged. "But I did it"

We were chatting a little longer about what happened in the last few days to them, then we said goodbye.

Time to rest for a while.

————Author's note

I don't really like this chapter, sorry about that, but I really wanted to include this part in the story - aaand I wanted to make it canon according to the game's story.

Still, it feels kinda weird, it took me a lot of time to write.. 😅 I've been enjoying exploring Sumeru, ngl I feel a strong connection with dendro.

Also, I didn't include every new info in the story, all of you probably know what's up.

Anyway we are going back to Mondstadt now after this quick filler chapter.

I hope y'all kinda enjoy the story so far ❤️