"Fontaine, huh? Then I'm coming too!"
Nahida's eyes sparkled like gemstones the moment Idris mentioned his next destination.
Idris gave her a long, knowing look. "I'm going there on official business, not a sightseeing tour."
She smiled sweetly. "And as your secretary, it's perfectly reasonable that I accompany you to handle official business, isn't it? Even Ganyu from Liyue accompanies the Qixing abroad. It's the proper thing to do."
He sighed. "You just want to travel."
Caught, she laughed softly but didn't deny it. And truth be told, Idris didn't really mind. Sumeru was stable now—its reforms running smoothly, the divine automatons repaired, the Zhuxian Sword Array fully constructed beneath the capital. Even if he were to leave, no faction would dare seize power in his absence.
He had even left behind a clone—his "shadow self"—to quietly oversee the nation.
So, after one final day of preparation, the Grand Sage packed his things, briefed the other high-ranking sages, and prepared to depart.
Before he left, Rukkhadevata saw him off personally. With a faint smile, she brushed the dust off his cloak.
"Treat this journey as a vacation, not another mission," she said. "Even the hardest metal bends if it's never allowed to rest."
Her tone was gentle—half teacher, half family.
Bidding farewell went smoothly enough, though one farewell was more awkward than the rest.
When Nilou learned Idris was leaving, her eyes darted between him and Nahida, an odd mix of surprise and disbelief flickering in her expression.
Wait a second… wasn't I supposed to be the first one he brought along?
Under Nilou's gaze, Nahida flushed bright red and quickly hid behind Idris.
By the following morning, their ship set sail from Port Bayda, bound north toward Fontaine's southern coast.
Their destination: Port Eaux-Rouges, then onward by aquatrain to the Opéra Épiclèse, where Neuvillette had invited Idris to "explain" the current crisis.
Diplomatic decorum demanded proper preparation, and Idris made sure every formality was observed. Sumeru, after all, was now a true world power—it must act the part.
Arrival at Fontaine
When they finally reached Port Eaux-Rouges, the chaos was even worse than Idris had imagined.
Crowds packed the piers—merchants, nobles, and citizens alike shouting and waving signs:
"Buying Bloodline Elixir—name your price!"
"Fifty times market value for a single dose!"
"Seeking transport to Sumeru's Akademiya! I can pay tuition but not the voyage!"
"Exchange: a house in Fontaine for one Sumeru elixir!"
Nahida's mouth fell open. "So the Chief Justice wasn't exaggerating. The entire economy is in chaos because of your pill."
Idris nodded, unsurprised. "That's human nature. The prophecy of Fontaine's destruction grows closer by the day. People are dissolving in the water without warning. Their god says nothing, their leaders stay silent. And then—suddenly—a miracle pill appears that promises safety."
He chuckled softly, eyes sharp with amusement.
"It's no wonder they've gone mad. Even the Fatui would envy such a clean method of sowing disorder."
"You really are a villain," Nahida muttered, half exasperated, half impressed. "Do you ever stop scheming?"
He spread his hands. "I'm not scheming. I'm managing outcomes. And if those outcomes earn me a profit… well, that's just good statecraft."
Her green eyes narrowed. "You know, that's exactly what villains say before justifying chaos."
"Which," he said with a faint grin, "is why I'm personally here—to fix the misunderstanding."
"Fix it? You mean control it."
"Semantics," he said mildly.
As their ship neared the pier, Idris gestured toward the frenzied crowd. "We should disguise ourselves. One glimpse of me, and we'll cause a riot."
Before Nahida could weave her concealment spell, another vessel approached—sleek, marked with the seal of The Steambird.
A cheerful voice called out, "Excuse me! Is Grand Sage Idris aboard this vessel?"
"I am," Idris replied, glancing over.
On the deck stood a pink-haired young woman holding a steam-powered camera. She bowed politely. "Good day, Grand Sage! I'm Charlotte, reporter for The Steambird. We heard about your planned arrival, so our paper came ahead to meet you."
"Oh," Idris murmured, lips twitching in amusement. Journalists. More persistent than fans.
Sensing his skepticism, Charlotte quickly added, "Chief Justice Neuvillette also asked us to assist you. The port's a bit… volatile right now. He thought it best if we escorted you safely to the capital."
"That's considerate," Idris said smoothly. "Very well."
He had no need to refuse—Fontaine's chaos was a storm he himself had created, but it would do no harm to let someone else guide him through it.
Charlotte exhaled in visible relief and ordered her crew to pull alongside. Soon, Idris and Nahida transferred aboard her ship.
Moments later, the Sumeru-marked vessel they'd come on was immediately surrounded by frantic buyers and officials.
Meanwhile, hidden under The Steambird's flag, Idris and Nahida slipped quietly away, boarding the aquatrain bound for the heart of Fontaine.
The aquatrain rumbled to life, gliding along glassy waterways that sparkled beneath the sunlight.
Idris leaned against the window, watching the elegant scenery roll by. "This is impressive," he mused. "Reminds me of… high-speed trains."
Nahida laughed softly. "Good luck building something like this in Sumeru. You'd have to tunnel through half the mountains first."
He smiled faintly. "Then perhaps one day, we'll do exactly that."
Charlotte, sitting nearby with her camera clutched nervously, kept sneaking glances at him. She had imagined interviewing the Grand Sage countless times—but sitting this close to him, feeling the quiet weight of his presence, her words caught in her throat.
Even Neuvillette, she thought, didn't have this kind of aura.
Sensing her unease, Idris decided to break the silence. "Tell me, Miss Charlotte," he said, his tone mild. "What exactly has happened in Fontaine since the elixir appeared?"
Charlotte swallowed hard, then managed a small, wary smile. "Well… please don't be angry when you hear it. Chief Justice Neuvillette certainly was."
Her voice lowered. "He said your name with… let's just say a lot of emotion."
Idris chuckled softly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Oh, I can imagine. After all—this chaos?"
He turned to look out at the waves.
"…It's all my doing."
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