"Milk?"
Alhaitham's calm expression twitched. For a scholar known for his composure, that single word seemed to violate the logic of reality itself.
His mind instantly flooded with objections, each phrased with clinical precision:
"Across the numerous studies concerning Eleazar, none have ever documented a single experiment involving milk.
While proper nutrition and stable routines are recommended to slow the disease's progression, milk is a common dietary component.
Countless patients have consumed it, yet not one has ever been cured because of it.
And since the disease's appearance centuries ago, there has never been a recorded case of complete recovery."
He fixed his gaze on Tighnari, voice low and incredulous.
"Are you certain it was nothing more than… a plain bucket of milk?"
Tighnari gave a helpless laugh. "I knew you wouldn't believe me," he admitted. "Frankly, I still struggle to believe it myself. But I saw it happen with my own eyes."
Cyno, silent until now, reached into his coat and carefully placed a small glass vial on the table. A faint creamy residue clung to its sides.
"This is what remained after Collei's recovery," he said quietly. "Let's… call it milk for now."
He folded his hands.
"I've tested it every way I know , alchemically, elementally, chemically. The results are consistent across all trials. Compositionally, it is just milk."
He met Alhaitham's eyes.
"If you don't believe me, you're free to analyze it yourself."
Alhaitham took the vial without comment, studying it against the light before storing it carefully away.
"Your analytical ability is among the best in Sumeru," he said at last. "If you've confirmed this much, I trust your process. Still, if something as simple as this can cure Eleazar, we can't ignore it. I'll continue the investigation personally."
Tighnari nodded. "Good. Regardless of how absurd it sounds , Collei's cured. That's all that matters for now."
He allowed himself a small smile. "As long as the great General Mahamatra doesn't accuse me of falsifying data."
Cyno shot him a sidelong glance but said nothing. In any other circumstance, he might have cracked a pun about "mooving results," but even he was too dazed for humor.
Alhaitham, meanwhile, pressed on.
"When that Millelith soldier delivered the milk," he asked, "what exactly did he do?"
Tighnari frowned, recalling.
"He said: 'This is milk sent by Lady Lisa of Mondstadt. It will cure Miss Collei's Eleazar. For the best result, she should drink it all.' Then he said nothing else. Even after Collei drank it and her symptoms vanished before our eyes, he didn't react. Not shock, not delight , nothing. He acted as if it were entirely expected."
"…That's it?" Alhaitham asked slowly.
"That's it," Tighnari confirmed. Then his ears twitched. "Actually, there was something else odd. He insisted we pour the milk into our own containers , refused to leave the iron bucket behind, and carried it away afterward."
Cyno's brows drew together. "He retrieved the bucket?"
"Yes. At first I thought it was a simple precaution," Tighnari said, his tone uncertain. "But now that I think of it… perhaps the bucket itself was unusual. Still, the way he acted, calm, unconcerned, it didn't seem like it was the bucket he was protecting."
Alhaitham rubbed at his forehead, clearly annoyed by the growing absurdity.
"Milk and a bucket," he muttered. "Every detail seems meaningless, yet together they make no sense at all. The Millelith are disciplined and humorless; they wouldn't play such a prank."
He looked back up. "Did he ever mention Ryen?"
Tighnari immediately shook his head. "No. I asked directly, but he gave no reply. Just silence."
"Silence," Alhaitham said dryly, "is the loudest confirmation of all."
He gave a faint, humorless smile.
"So it really does lead back to him. Whatever this Ryen is doing in Liyue… his reach now extends to curing incurable diseases."
He leaned back, thoughtful. "For now, we'll set this matter aside. It concerns all Eleazar patients, but we lack the means to act on it. Let's move on to current affairs."
His tone hardened slightly. "Tighnari, have you received any recent correspondence from the Akademiya?"
Tighnari's expression darkened. "Three letters. Supposedly from my mentor. But though the handwriting is nearly identical, it isn't his. He always marks his letters with a personal glyph on the back. These had none. I suspect they were forged , possibly by the Grand Sage himself."
Cyno's eyes narrowed. "What do they say?"
"They ask me to return to the Akademiya and assist in a research project." Tighnari hesitated. "I fear for my teacher. If the Grand Sage is behind this…"
Alhaitham rested his chin on one hand, thoughtful.
"Sage Nafis of the Amurta Darshan," he mused. "A man of rigid morals , more scholar than politician. I can't imagine him willingly partaking in anything like the God-Creation Plan."
Tighnari nodded grimly. "That's what worries me. His integrity may have put him at odds with the others."
He turned toward Cyno. "You've been inside the Akademiya recently. Have you seen him?"
Cyno's brows furrowed deeply, his low voice edged with restrained tension.
"…No. I haven't seen him."
Tighnari's expression sank at once. "So it's true then… something has happened."
He exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration.
He wasn't overly worried that the Grand Sage Azar would outright harm Nafis, his former mentor , after all, Nafis was one of the Six Sages, a pillar of the Akademiya's authority. But still…
If Nafis had been silenced or imprisoned, it meant that Azar's plans were advancing to a dangerous stage. Any disruption in Nafis's role could shake the entire structure of the God-Creation Project.
At worst, Azar might have simply detained him , a cold but pragmatic move to keep him from interfering.
"I'll help you confirm his location," Alhaitham said evenly. "My guess is that he's alive, but this isn't the time to mount a rescue. The priority now is Azar's scheme itself. You'll need to stay here in Gandharva Ville, Tighnari , and be ready to receive messages or provide cover if we need it."
Tighnari nodded. "Understood. What about your investigation?"
At that, Cyno's face darkened. He said nothing, simply sitting rigidly, his jaw set tight.
Alhaitham sighed and took over. "We've gathered complete evidence confirming the existence of the God-Creation Project," he began. "And it's worse than we feared. The Grand Sage isn't working alone. He's in partnership with the former Akademiya exile , now the Second Fatui Harbinger, the so-called Doctor, Dottore."
Tighnari's eyes widened. "Dottore?! That lunatic who dissects living beings in the name of knowledge?"
A humorless smile crossed Alhaitham's face.
"Is it really surprising? Madmen often find comfort in each other's company."
His voice turned sharp and cold.
"That's why, from now on, every move we make must be deliberate. The Fatui Harbingers of the top three seats all possess strength comparable to the Seven Archons. A direct confrontation would be suicide."
"The only fortunate thing," he continued, "is that after Ryen destroyed part of the Akademiya's infrastructure, the Doctor appears to have been injured. We've found no trace of him in Sumeru recently , he's likely withdrawn for now."
Tighnari shook his head. "That's hardly good news… He'll be back."
Alhaitham didn't argue. His silence was answer enough.
So long as Dottore lived, the threat remained.
"The three of us together wouldn't stand a chance against him," Cyno muttered darkly.
"Even so," Alhaitham said, "if all else fails, there is one last path."
Tighnari understood immediately. "The Little Lord Kusanali, isn't it?"
Alhaitham nodded. "Yes. The Lesser Lord Kusanali may lack divine might, but she has powerful allies , Ryen among them, and through him, the Geo Archon and the Anemo Archon. If Dottore acts openly, our only option will be to seek help from Liyue."
He paused, eyes thoughtful. "But that must remain our final resort. Ryen himself said it , Sumeru's sins must be resolved by Sumeru's own hands."
Tighnari inclined his head in agreement. "Understood. What else?"
Alhaitham's gaze sharpened. "Azar recently assigned me a mission , to travel to Port Ormos and recover fragments of Divine Knowledge Capsules. I believe he doesn't trust me fully. Once I set out, he'll have me followed , perhaps even ambushed. This is likely a test, or an excuse to eliminate me."
His tone was calm, matter-of-fact, though the danger was obvious.
"If that happens, I won't be able to return to Sumeru City for some time. I'll either come here to Gandharva Ville or disappear into the desert. Whatever happens, wait for my message before acting."
Tighnari frowned in concern. "I'll prepare safe routes and cover. But… have they really come this far already?"
Alhaitham exhaled softly. "To Azar, a 'true god' must possess both divine power and divine knowledge. The power comes easily enough , he still holds the Gnosis stolen from the Lesser Lord Kusanali, and with Dottore's technology, creating a divine vessel is possible. The Akademiya's frantic resource collection these past weeks is almost certainly for constructing that vessel."
He leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing.
"The Knowledge Capsules of gods, though… that's the real key. I don't know how many they've obtained, but if we can seize even one, it might give us the leverage we need."
He paused, his expression calm but determined. "Risk and opportunity often walk hand in hand. I'll have to take the risk."
Tighnari didn't argue. He simply said quietly, "Be careful. If things become too dangerous, you can still flee to Liyue. The Lesser Lord is there, and Liyue will shelter you."
Alhaitham nodded, then turned his gaze toward Cyno.
The Mahamatra sat stiffly, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his tone was grim.
"I've been investigating Azar's private archives , the files linked to the Akasha system. And what I found…"
He clenched his fist.
"That man has uploaded everything about me into the Akasha. My movements, my communications, my behavioral models , all of it. My entire existence is now under surveillance and prediction."
He looked up, golden eyes burning with restrained fury.
"That means every step I take from now on is already foreseen by the system. Azar's been watching me from the beginning.
If I'm not careful… I could become the very weak point he'll use to break us."
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