The morning air was thick with humidity and the scent of damp earth as they ascended the winding ramps toward the Akademiya. The colossal structure loomed above, its stone and wood woven into the Divine Tree like a parasite or a symbiont, depending on one's perspective. Today, it felt less like a sanctuary of knowledge and more like a fortress preparing for a siege.
Ren walked between Ningguang and Lisa, his small leather satchel containing his diagrams bouncing against his hip. He wore his formal Liyue tunic, the deep sapphire fabric embroidered with silver clouds—a subtle reminder of the nation and the adeptus standing behind him.
At the main entrance, they were met not by a welcoming committee, but by a single, thin-faced scholar in the green robes of the Amurta Darshan. He bowed, his movements stiff and perfunctory.
"Esteemed guests," he intoned, his voice dry as old parchment. "Please, follow me. The Grand Sage has arranged for a waiting chamber near the House of Daena for your preparations."
He led them through the echoing halls, past classrooms filled with the murmurs of lectures and laboratories buzzing with activity. They arrived at a simple, well-lit room furnished with a table and a few chairs.
The scholar turned to Ren, adjusting his glasses. "The review process for your applications has been… adjusted. Due to the volume and the unprecedented nature of your submissions, the Matra and the Sages have agreed on a split schedule."
He consulted a slate in his hand. "First, the review for the 'Elemental Thermal Regulation Unit'—your heater—and the 'Cryo-Stasis Preservation Unit'—the refrigerator. This session is scheduled for 10:30 AM. It is classified as a Standard Technical Assessment. The panel will consist of three Dasturs: two from Ksharewar to evaluate the mechanical engineering, and one from Spantamad to verify the elemental circuitry. They will primarily inquire about the operational principles and how these devices iterate upon existing heating and cooling technologies. It should be… routine."
Ren nodded. Routine was good. He could explain resistive heating and heat exchange in his sleep.
"However," the scholar continued, his tone shifting slightly, becoming heavier, more formal. "The review for the 'Artificial Elemental Focusing Array'—the man-made Vision—is scheduled for the afternoon session at 2:30 PM. This has been classified as a High-Severity Profile Review."
He looked at Ren, a flicker of something—curiosity? pity?—in his eyes. "Due to the profound metaphysical and regulatory implications of this device, the review will be conducted personally by Grand Sage Azar of the Rtawahist Darshan, and Sage Khajeh of the Haravatat Darshan."
Ningguang's eyes narrowed instantly. Lisa's relaxed posture stiffened.
"Other Sages are currently engaged in critical Akademiya business and cannot attend," the scholar explained quickly, perhaps sensing the shift in the room's atmosphere. "There will be senior researchers from Ksharewar, Spantamad, and Haravatat present in the gallery, but they will not participate in the primary questioning. They will only be permitted to pose supplementary inquiries regarding regulatory compliance after the Sages have concluded their examination."
He paused, glancing at his slate again. "Regarding the 'Aerial Mobility Devices'—the hoverboard and the hovercar—no review slot has been allocated at this time. The committee requires further… deliberation on the safety protocols and airspace regulations before proceeding."
He bowed again. "You have time before the first session. Please, prepare yourself." With that, he turned and left, the heavy wooden door clicking shut behind him.
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken implications.
Lisa was the first to speak, her voice low and contemplative. She wandered over to the window, looking out at the sprawling city below.
"Standard Technical Assessment for the heater and fridge," she mused. "Three Dasturs. That's practically an insult. They're treating those inventions like glorified cooking pots. They don't care about the engineering marvels that make life easier for the common folk. It's too… mundane for them."
She turned back to the room, her emerald eyes sharp. "But the afternoon session… Azar and Khajeh? That's not a review. That's an interrogation."
Ningguang sat at the table, her fingers drumming a slow, thoughtful rhythm on the wood. "Indeed. Azar's presence speaks volumes. The Grand Sage rarely descends from his ivory tower for anything less than a threat or a treasure. And Khajeh… from my intelligence on the Akademiya's internal politics, Khajeh is not just the Sage of Haravatat. He is Azar's creature. A loyalist. His presence ensures that the panel is not balanced, but unified."
She looked at Ren, her expression grim. "If it had been Naphis of Amurta, or even someone from Vahumana, there might have been a chance for impartial debate. But this… this is a stacked deck."
"And the hover vehicles?" Ren asked, his brow furrowed. "Why delay them?"
"Leverage," Ningguang said simply. "Or perhaps a stall tactic. By keeping those patents in limbo, they keep us here. They keep you here. It suggests they are not planning on letting this process conclude quickly. They want to extend your stay in Sumeru."
She stood up and walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Her touch was firm, grounding.
"Ren," she said, her voice serious but calm. "Do not be distracted by their games. This is politics. It is a theater of power, designed to make you feel small, to make you doubt your work. They want to rattle you."
She leaned down, looking him directly in the eye. "But you must remember: you are the architect. You built these things. You understand them in a way they never will. Azar may have authority, but he does not have knowledge. Not the kind that matters. Do not worry about their motives. Focus on the machines. Focus on the truth of your creation."
Lisa joined them, her smile encouraging. "Exactly, cutie. Just be your brilliant self. Explain your work clearly, simply, and confidently. Let your genius do the talking. We'll handle the glares and the subtext."
Ren looked at them—the powerful Tianquan and the brilliant Librarian—standing united in his defense. The anxiety that had started to bubble in his chest receded, replaced by a cool, steady resolve.
"I'm not worried," he said, and his voice was surprisingly steady. "I know my inventions better than anyone. Except maybe Master Xianyun. If they have questions, I have answers. And if they try to trick me… well, I've dealt with Harbingers. A couple of grumpy sages don't scare me."
Ningguang smiled, a genuine flash of pride. "That is the spirit. Now, review your notes for the heater. The Dasturs will be here soon. Let us show them what a 'routine' invention looks like when it's forged by a genius."
Ren sat down at the table, opening his satchel. He pulled out the schematics for the heater, the intricate drawings of the coil and the regulator. He took a deep breath, centering himself. The game was rigged, the judges were biased, and the stakes were higher than they seemed.
But he was ready. He was Ren. And he was about to teach the Akademiya a lesson in true innovation.