"Oh, right… I almost forgot about that."
Hearing those words, Nahida finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
For a moment, she'd thought Grand Sage Idris was packing his luggage because he planned to move out—leaving this room to her.
And if that happened, wouldn't she lose her chance to share his bed for warmth at night…?
—Wait, what am I even thinking?!
Idris, meanwhile, had no idea what strange thoughts were passing through the little god's head. To him, this trip was nothing more than a vacation—a small break from his duties, while also an opportunity to bring the Aranara of the forest fully under his command.
After all, those tiny spirits were the finest scouts in the rainforest, living carefree lives of play and song. Expecting them to toil like ordinary humans was unrealistic—but it was time they learned who truly ruled Sumeru's rainforests now.
Once the Aranara fully aligned under his banner, Sumeru would finally know peace—at least for a long while.
Then, perhaps, Idris could travel abroad for a while and earn some fresh rewards from his mysterious System.
After finishing his preparations for the journey, he stretched out on the bed and soon fell asleep.
Nahida obediently took her usual place beside him—his pillow and his warmth for another comfortable night.
The next morning, Idris set out with Nahida and the newly awakened Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, bound for the entrance to Vanarana.
"That world is like a dream," Nahida explained softly. "Without an invitation, no one can pass through."
"But with us here, bringing you across will be easy, Grand Sage."
The little god's face lit up with pride—as though thrilled to finally have something she could show off in front of him.
Idris's golden eyes merely flickered once. He didn't comment.
His Fiery Insight had already seen through where the entrance lay, and as someone who knew the story's "original script," he knew perfectly well how to enter Vanarana. Still, he didn't interrupt her little moment of pride.
If the "little princess" wanted to show off, he could let her.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, for her part, merely smiled. As an elder, she understood well the urge to let the younger generation prove themselves.
Before long, Nahida led them to an ancient stone stele. Placing her small hand on its surface, she whispered a brief incantation.
Instantly, Idris felt the air twist and bend.
Space itself seemed to warp and overlap—and in the blink of an eye, the three of them stood in another realm, one that shimmered with dreamlike color.
At once, he felt both his Fiery Insight and the Heart of Arrays within him thrum in response.
"…So that's how it is," he murmured, eyes narrowing in interest. "A dream matrix capable of folding space—shifting consciousness and matter across short distances."
He chuckled softly. "What a fascinating technique."
Already, he was cataloging it in his mind. Before leaving Vanarana, perhaps he could study and copy the formation for himself.
As the distortion faded, a radiant dream-forest unfolded before his eyes—vivid and fantastical.
They had arrived.
"Grand Sage Idris," Nahida said, tugging gently at his hand, "this is Vanarana—the homeland of the Aranara. They can be a bit silly at times, like children, so please be gentle with them."
Idris raised a brow. "What, do you take me for some tyrant who'd strike them down the moment they disobey?"
Nahida smiled sweetly and teased, "Aren't you exactly that sort of person?"
Rukkhadevata hid her laughter behind a hand. Watching the two bicker so naturally made her heart ache with fond amusement.
Moments later, a round, floating creature drifted toward them—the first Aranara.
It waved cheerily. "Ah! It's Sage Nara and the Lord of Grass! …Wait—is that the Great Lord of Trees?!"
Spotting Rukkhadevata behind Idris, the little spirit's eyes went wide.
And when Rukkhadevata smiled kindly and greeted them, "Hello, my dear children. It's been such a long time," the poor Aranara nearly burst into tears.
"Ahhhh! The Lord of Trees! The Lord of Grass! And Sage Nara too! The elders didn't tell me we were greeting so many important guests!"
Panicking, it zipped about in circles.
Rukkhadevata chuckled softly behind her hand, the picture of gentle grace.
Nahida sighed and squeezed Idris's hand. "Please don't mind them. These little ones never truly grow up, no matter how many years pass."
"I don't mind," Idris replied easily. "Though… 'Sage Nara' is quite the odd title."
Still, he knew it was their custom, and customs were not his concern.
The panicked Aranara's cries soon roused the entire dream-forest.
Within moments, Idris could sense hundreds of presences gathering around them—every Aranara in Vanarana, by the look of it.
A single aged Aranara emerged from a moss-covered hut. Idris recognized him vaguely from memory and game lore alike.
"Ararakala… the village elder," he recalled. "The oldest of them all."
The elder looked up at Rukkhadevata, eyes brimming. "Lord of Trees… it's truly you?"
For a moment, Idris was taken aback. He hadn't known these spirits could even cry—but there it was: a trembling, tearful smile.
Rukkhadevata stepped forward, resting a hand upon her chest.
"It was Grand Sage Idris who brought me here. My revival was possible only because of his aid."
"Truly?!" Ararakala turned to Idris, face glowing with gratitude. "Thank you, Sage Nara! Not only have you reunited us with the Lord of Grass, but you even restored the Lord of Trees!"
Idris inclined his head slightly. "Call them however you wish, but to me, they're simply the little princess and Sumeru's elder princess. You are their friends and followers. If they wished to visit you, it was only right that I bring them."
He smiled faintly. "We'll all celebrate the Festival of Utsava together."
"Yes! Together!" the elder cheered, his whole body trembling with joy.
Leading them eagerly through the village, he laughed and chattered the whole way.
Soon, Nahida excused herself to speak privately with Rukkhadevata and the Aranara elders—important talks between the gods and their faithful.
Idris didn't intrude. Instead, he wandered the dreamlike forest paths alone… until a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Wait—Grand Sage Idris?! What are you doing here?!"
Another voice chimed in, bright and surprised:
"I told you I wasn't seeing things, didn't I? Even if this is a dream world, there's no way I'd mistake a real person for part of the dream!"
From a nearby hut, Lumine stepped out, a flower crown adorning her golden hair, with Paimon fluttering beside her.
They waved, equally stunned and delighted.
Lumine had earned that crown after finishing the Aranyaka—a long and gentle journey through Sumeru's forests. Even with Marana's corruption gone, the Festival of Utsava still carried on in joy.
And now, of all people, she'd stumbled upon the Grand Sage himself.
Idris blinked once, then chuckled. "I'd heard tales about you, Traveler—how you appear everywhere at once, as if fate itself bends around your footsteps. Seeing you here… I suppose those rumors weren't wrong."
Lumine smiled wryly. "You're one to talk, Grand Sage. But still—what brings you to Vanarana?"
"The Aranara invited me," Idris replied casually. "So… I came along."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a bewildered look. "Huh? What kind of answer is that?!"
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