The dream-version of Vanarana always had a strangely violet sky, with no sun or moon, and thus no division between day and night.
But after experiencing both the dream Sabzeruz Festival and the real Sabzeruz Festival back-to-back, Victor Wang, Lumine, and Paimon still managed to rest properly for a while. By the time they left Vanarana, it was already daylight outside.
Their first stop, following Lumine's wishes, was the Apam Woods. From here the Varuna Contraption, from which Nara Varuna's name originated.
"Speaking of which, the 'Varuna Contraption' sounds really impressive. What exactly is it supposed to be?" Paimon asked the Aranara of the Apam Woods.
"The Varuna Contraption is very impressive. Since you carry the scent of Vanarana, if you want to see it, Aranakula will take you."
Following Aranakula to a high and open cliff, Victor Wang gazed down toward the Apam Woods below.
The Apam Woods was shaped around a massive river, wide enough to rival the 'Port Ormos–Vimara Village' trade route that could accommodate large merchant ships. And like the neighboring river, this river's source also came from the southern sea.
In the very center of this river stood an enormous tree stump—giant even compared to the river itself—its form unusual. The interior of the stump was completely hollow, yet enveloped by shimmering, water-colored energy.
"That is the Varuna Vessel. The Varuna Contraption is deeper inside—down where the roots would be."
"So, the Varuna Contraption is actually a tree?"
"No! The Varuna Contraption was not grown from a seed. It was created by Queen Aranyani together with Aramuhukunda. Very impressive, very important."
To prove the magnificence of the Varuna Contraption to Paimon, Aranakula remotely activated it.
In an instant, the entire river seemed swallowed by some invisible giant whale—the water level sank at a speed visible to the naked eye, nearly emptying in mere seconds. Then the water that had been swallowed burst upward from around the Varuna Vessel, spiraling into the air like a whale's fountain. The sky above the Apam Woods darkened, and then it began to rain.
Because of the differences in elevation, the river of the Apam Woods did not flow toward the sea like the neighboring river. Instead, like the waters around Watatsumi Island, the entire river was formed by seawater pouring in from the southern ocean.
Thus, even if the river's water turned into rain, the river itself would not dry up. More seawater continuously flowed in, was purified, and then irrigated the lands farther beyond.
Witnessing such a spectacle, Paimon hurried under Lumine's "rain-shield aura". "What was that just now?! So spectacular!"
"That is the power of the Varuna Contraption. Paimon understands now."
Victor Wang's perception was even more direct. When the Varuna Contraption activated, he felt a force surge from deep underground—a force capable of lifting an entire river into the sky, scattering it into raindrops, and sustaining the cycle endlessly. The power was astonishing.
Lumine sensed something similar. She asked, "Can you tell us the story of the Varuna Contraption and Nara Varuna?"
"Yes, Golden Nara."
Aranakula first stopped the torrential rain before it became a disaster. The sky cleared again, and then Aranakula began:
"Long, long ago, when the forest was not yet this dense and the ground was still full of sand, Queen Aranyani and Aramuhukunda created the Varuna Contraption. It brought rain, and life was born from the sand.
But after Queen Aranyani returned to the Akasha, the rain turned black, the soil turned black, and many, many bad things appeared, plunging Vanarana into chaos.
Then the Golden Nara arrived. Like sunlight dispersing black clouds, he worked with the Aranara to heal the Varuna Contraption. That is why everyone in Vanarana thanks Nara Varuna and loves Nara Varuna.
After Nara Varuna left, many plants sprouted from the earth and returned to the earth again, through many suns and moons. Gradually, the branches and leaves of the Varuna Contraption grew tired.
Now, there is too much rain—strange rain. Running mushrooms settled in Vanarana, and unfamiliar seeds are everywhere."
"It's Fungi and spores? No wonder the air smells so weird…" Paimon sniffed hard.
"Now Aramuhukunda is not in Vanarana… Nara Varuna is not in Vanarana… but the Aranara must heal the Varuna Contraption again—for Nara Varuna, for Vanarana."
"Don't worry; we came here to help."
"Yes. Paimon, Nara Lumine, Nara Victor—you are all like Nara Varuna, all friends of the Aranara."
Fixing the Varuna Contraption required steps just as Victor Wang remembered.
They needed to repair the "branches" and "leaves" on the main body of the Varuna Contraption as well as the three separate sets of "branches" and "leaves" elsewhere. During this process, they met Aranakula, Arabalika, and Arakunti again—without any unexpected complications.
Finally, they entered the hollow interior of the massive stump—the Varuna Vessel—and defeated the Fungi that had overtaken the Varuna Contraption. This too went smoothly.
The Varuna Contraption returned to normal, and so did the Apam Woods.
After conveying Arama's wish for reunion, and saying farewell to the four Aranara, the group of three headed for their next destination.
The second stop was Vimara Village and Devantaka Mountain. Here, they needed to summon Aranara back to Vanarana, and there also stood a massive Ruin Golem left from the Khaenri'ahn War.
Victor Wang was extremely familiar with Vimara Village. The Aranara they sought was Arana—same generation as Arama but long living outside.
Unfortunately, Arana did not seem to be in Vimara Village.
Fortunately, when the three went to Devantaka Mountain to find another Aranara, Arana happened to be there.
"Uwah! That smell!"
"Don't be afraid, Aralohita. Nara Victor is a Nara who likes eliminating Marana, and works hard to protect little Nara. Though the scent is strange, he is definitely a good Nara."
The moment Aralohita saw Victor Wang, the flower on its head spun backward in fright. Arana, however, remained calm and examined Lumine from head to toe while explaining for Victor Wang.
"What's going on?" Paimon was baffled, and Lumine also looked confused.
"Lately the Vanarana here—ah, the forest," Aralohita explained, "the forest and the river have been crying. Although it cannot be seen, Aralohita knows something very dirty and bad is making the forest sick."
"The bad thing's scent is very similar to Marana's, but not exactly the same. Nara Victor is more special—his scent is somewhat like the bad thing, but again, not exactly the same. After careful smelling, Aralohita realized it was a mistake. Sorry."
Victor Wang narrowed his eyes. The abnormality in the forest of Devantaka Mountain was caused by the lost energy core of the giant Ruin Golem hidden underground.
That Khaenri'ah-made core likely resembled Abyssal power, but not as pure as the corruption he bore from the "Sinner." The Abyss and the "Withering formed jointly by Abyss and ley lines" were also technically different, resulting in scents that resembled one another yet were not identical.
"What smell and what smell? I'm getting dizzy… Are you saying Victor smells like the thing destroying the forest? Impossible! Victor has been with us the whole time—there's no way he caused the forest damage."
Paimon's defense made Victor Wang smile, but after hearing Aralohita's explanation, Lumine fell into thought.
Victor Wang was also thinking. If he glossed over the descent of the Sinner's power the same way he had fooled Dainsleif and Kaeya—by claiming he "lost consciousness"—and blamed everything on the Abyss Order, no one would suspect he was a Hilichurl. And once Lumine met Caribert, she might recognize the Sinner's scent anyway…
He felt a bit like "confessing." "This is the special method I use to sense Withering Zones. If you want to understand it, we can find a time, and I'll explain."
===BREAK===
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